MLB.COM Reds sign free agents Parra, Olivo Reliever could bolster lefty presence in ‘pen; catcher brings depth to camp February 1, 2013, 9:57 PM ET By Mark Sheldon CINCINNATI -- The Reds on Friday added some depth to their bullpen and behind the plate by signing two free agents. Lefty Manny Parra was signed to a one-year contract worth a reported $1 million, with a chance to earn an additional $400,000 in appearance bonuses. Earlier in the day, the club signed catcher Miguel Olivo to a Minor League contract with an invite to big league Spring Training as a non-roster player. To make room for Parra on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Todd Redmond was designated for assignment. Parra, 30, spent his entire pro career in the Brewers organization, including five seasons in the Majors. He was thrilled to be joining a former National League Central rival. "I was excited, especially when I heard they were interested," Parra told MLB.com. "I'm excited to have an opportunity with a team that's doing so well. I always had a ton of respect when playing against them and now I am looking forward to playing for them." Originally a prized young starting pitcher who once threw a perfect game in Triple-A, Parra didn't develop into the ace Milwaukee hoped for. He was to be moved to the bullpen in 2011 but missed the entire season with a sprained elbow ligament and back issues. In 2012, Parra was 2-3 with a 5.06 ERA in a career-high 62 appearances while earning $1.2 million. He was arbitration-eligible this winter and the Brewers did not tender him a contract, which made him a free agent. "For missing all of 2011, I was happy with how I handled it," Parra said of being in the bullpen. "I'm looking to build on that." Earlier in the winter, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty indicated he would keep an eye on the market for a left-handed reliever. With just under two weeks left until Spring Training camps open, prices are likely falling for free agents. After they moved Aroldis Chapman to the rotation this offseason, the Reds had only Sean Marshall from the left side in their bullpen heading into 2013. If Parra is successful, he would make the Majors' best bullpen last season even stronger. Lefty hitters batted .229 against Parra last season. Parra said he and the Reds have discussed philosophies and how he might be used but wanted to meet face-to-face with pitching coach Bryan Price. A resident of nearby Scottsdale, Ariz., Parra expected to arrive early at Reds camp in Goodyear on Monday. "We've discussed but I'd like to hear Bryan say it," Parra said. "I can go multiple innings if needed and face guys on both sides of the plate. I've always done it. But I won't concern myself with the role. I just want to get out there pitching and see what happens." Besides having two separate tours with the Mariners, the 34-year-old Olivo has also played for the White Sox, Padres, Marlins, Rockies and Royals. His last two seasons were spent in Seattle, where he batted .222 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs in 87 games during 2012. Lifetime, Olivo is a .241 hitter with a .275 on-base percentage. Cincinnati enters camp with veteran Ryan Hanigan as the primary catcher and Devin Mesoraco backing up. The team expects to have 28 pitchers report on Feb. 12, and they will all need someone to throw to behind the plate. Olivo's addition will give the Reds six catchers in camp. Desert bound: Reds truck loaded for spring camp Club packs 25,000-30,000 pounds of equipment, scheduled to depart Monday February 1, 2013, 2:47 PM ET By Mark Sheldon CINCINNATI -- The loading dock at Great American Ball Park on Friday resembled an aisle from your average Costco wholesale store. Lots of boxes and supplies were stacked high and ready to move in bulk. A 53-foot tractor-trailer truck was backed up to receive these goods for the annual pack-up for Reds Spring Training in Goodyear, Ariz. If a Reds player needs something during camp, there's an excellent chance that clubhouse manager Rick Stowe will have it. After all, it likely went on to the truck headed west. "We've got a skid of bats," Stowe said as he unveiled a list that totaled three pages. "We've got duffel bags. We've got all of the players' stuff. We have a skid of Nike and Majestic short-sleeved and long-sleeved shirts. We have underwear and jock straps. That's all on one skid. We have towels. We have a skid of white and gray pants. "We have everything from shoe stretchers, hat stretchers and our press to make uniforms, to Gapper's outfit here." You need baseballs? What kind? Stowe packed 40 cases of balls already rubbed down with mud and another 100 cases of pristine, white practice balls. There are 72 balls per case, according to Stowe. How about bats? Sixty dozen are going to Goodyear. Helmets? There are 11 helmet bags packed with 32 helmets inside each bag. All totaled, there will be an estimated 25,000-30,000 pounds of stuff packed on to the truck that is scheduled to depart Cincinnati on Monday. The journey from Cincinnati to Goodyear is 1,863 miles. Besides baseball equipment, the clubhouse staff used forklifts and push carts to pack up the usual assortment of luggage, golf clubs, office supplies, Gatorade and food. The medical staff includes its supplies, while the scoreboard department also sends out cameras and multimedia equipment for shoots that take place during camp. The truck must leave six days earlier than last year because the World Baseball Classic has pushed up Spring Training report dates. Reds pitchers and catchers are due to report on Feb. 12, with the full squad arriving on Feb. 15. This is the fourth year that the Reds have been holding Spring Training in Arizona after decades in Florida. The club was in Sarasota from 1998-2009. "It's so much easier," Stowe said. "Every year, it gets easier and easier out there. I actually get most of my stuff shipped out there or we leave it out there -- stuff we used to have to send to Sarasota. We have the facility out there to do it. We didn't have the facility in Sarasota. There was no storage or places to leave it secured." It's hard to believe with all of the volume of boxes and bags that it only takes Stowe and his staff about 45 minutes to load up the truck. "It used to take days to do when we were in Florida," Stowe said. Reds have work to do with four arbitration cases With three signed, Bailey, Latos, Leake and Choo remain as hearings approach February 1, 2013, 1:27 PM ET By Mark Sheldon CINCINNATI -- Three down, four to go. That's where the Reds stand in their efforts to clear the deck of arbitration cases before hearings begin. Reliever Logan Ondrusek signed a two-year contract on Jan. 17, while outfielder Chris Heisey and reliever Alfredo Simon inked one-year deals on Thursday. That leaves starting pitchers Homer Bailey, Mat Latos and Mike Leake and outfielder Shin-Soo Choo still to be signed. Going to a hearing remains a large possibility. "I'm not any more optimistic, really, today," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said on Friday. "We haven't made a lot of progress." Arbitration hearings league-wide begin on Monday and run through Feb. 20. The Reds were not revealing their specific scheduled hearing dates. "We still have a couple of weeks," Jocketty said. When numbers were exchanged earlier this month, the biggest gaps were with Choo and Bailey. Choo filed for $8 million, and the club countered at $6.75 million for a difference of $1.25 million. Bailey filed at $5.8 million, while the club offered $4.75 million -- a difference of $1.05 million. He avoided arbitration last winter by signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract. Latos filed for $4.7 million, while the club's offer was $4.15 million -- a separation of $550,000. The Reds discussed multi-year deals with Bailey and Latos but haven't gotten very far as of yet. If the cases go to a hearing, the arbitrator's rulings are binding, as the player is automatically signed to a one-year contract at the ruled amount. Negotiations can and will continue right up to the last minute, if needed. The Reds have not faced an arbitration hearing with one of their players since winning against reliever Chris Reitsma in 2004. Reds assessing options to bring back Rolen General manager Jocketty hopes to find answer as early as ‘this weekend’ February 1, 2013, 12:56 PM ET By Mark Sheldon CINCINNATI -- The Reds are still exploring the notion of bringing back veteran third baseman Scott Rolen for one more season. To make that a reality, there appears to be more to do than crossing the T's and dotting some I's. "We don't know for sure," general manager Walt Jocketty said Friday of Rolen's status. "It's still up in the air." Rolen, who turns 38 on April 4, became a free agent after last season and has spent the offseason contemplating retirement.