Reds, Marshall agree to 3-year extension

GOODYEAR, Ariz. Sean Marshall wont be a One-Year Wonder or a One-And-Done pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. As expected, Marshall and the Reds agreed to a three-year contract extension, placing the 29-year-old lefthanded relief pitcher under club control through 2015. When the Reds traded pitcher Travis Wood and others to the Chicago Cubs for Marshall, he arrived on the last year of his contract. But Reds general manager Walt Jocketty planned all along to work out an extension and was confident it could be done quickly and efficiently. When we made the trade, we made it with the intention of extending him and we were confident we could do that, said Jocketty. We wanted to approach it sooner than later. And our goal was to get it done before the exhibition games started (Saturday) and we did get it done before the games. He is a quality person and will add a lot to our franchise and organization over the next four years, said Jocketty. You look at the quality of his work, one of the top set-up guys in the game, so well have flexibility in the future if we want to use him as a closer. That will be determined as we go down the road. The Reds lost closer Francisco Cordero to free agency and signed closer Ryan Madson to a one-year deal, which is what Madson wanted. If Madson leaves after this year, does Marshall become the closer? We would look for other closers, but at least wed know we have Marshall and could use him in that capacity, said Jocketty. Used mostly as a set-up guy by the Cubs, he was most successful the past two years, going 7-5 with a 2.65 ERA in 80- appearances in 2010 and 6-6 with a 2.26 ERA in 78 appearances last year. Carlos Marmol was the Cubs closer, but on days when he wasnt available the Cubs used Marshall to finish games and he recorded five saves last year.