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Report: Reds, Raburn agree to minor-league deal

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Cincinnati Reds bolstered their outfield depth Friday, agreeing to a minor-league deal with Ryan Raburn that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

Raburn, who turns 36 in April, struggled with the Colorado Rockies last season despite playing his most games (113) since 2011, as the versatile veteran hit just .220/.309/.440 (77 OPS+) with nine home runs and a 31.3 percent strikeout rate while managing -0.2 WAR.

His down year notwithstanding, Raburn continued to have success against left-handed pitching - his career OPS against southpaws is .827 - and the journeyman ranked among the game's best part-time players as recently as 2015, too, putting up a career-best .936 OPS (148 OPS+) in 82 games for the Cleveland Indians.

Raburn will likely compete for a reserve role with Cincinnati this spring, and could provide a right-handed complement to right fielder Scott Schebler, who hit just .195/.267/.341 in 45 plate appearances against left-handed pitching in 2016.

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