Reds avoid arbitration with Jared Burton

This seems like good news: The club and relief pitcher Jared Burton agreed to a one-year, $810,000 contract, avoiding arbitration. Burton was the last remaining arbitration-eligible player. The sides were to exchange figures Tuesday. “It worked out well,” Reds general manager Walter Jocketty said. “They’re happy. We’re happy. It’s good to get through the arbitration process. Now, we can start thinking about baseball.” Always good to avoid those arbitration hearings, I say. I’m a Burton fan, and I expect him to have a big bounce-back year in 2010. Hope I’m right.