The Reds signed Brian Hunter to a one-year, minor-league contract. Hunter, an outfielder-first baseman, is a strong candidate to make the club.
''He's a guy with right-handed power,'' General Manager Jim Bowden said, ''who you put in late in the game and he can hit one out and win it.''
Bowden said he was comfortable with left-handed pinch-hitters Lenny Harris and Jeff Branson.
''But when Jim Leyland and Tony LaRussa bring in those left-
handers late in the game, you need a right-handed hitter,'' Bowden said. ''He brings a lot to the club. He was a good fit when he was (here) before.''
Hunter played 49 games for the Reds during the 1994 and 1995 seasons, batting .235 with five homers and 19 RBI during that time.
Hunter, 28, has played in the big leagues for parts of seven seasons. He spent most of the 1996 season with Seattle and hit .268 with seven home runs and 28 runs batted in during 75 games. He batted .348 with seven homers and 24 RBI in 25 games at Class AAA Tacoma.
Hunter played for Atlanta in the 1991, 1992 and 1993 seasons.
Also Tuesday, Bowden said he expects the cases of pitcher Dave Burba and second baseman Bret Boone to go to arbitration.
''The sides have gotten further apart,'' he said.
Things are going better with reliever Hector Carrasco, the other arbitration-eligible Red.
''We could settle that one,'' Bowden said.
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