The Cincinnati Reds are close to signing left handed pitcher Jeff Francis to a minor league deal, according to Ken Rosenthal. Jon Heyman is now reporting the deal is official. Numbers have not been released yet.

Francis, 31, enters his 8th season with a career 4.78 ERA. He spent his first six seasons with the Colorado Rockies, but was out for the entire 2009 season following a surgery on his left shoulder (that's the important one!). While he's no Edwin Jackson, he's good for 180+ innings when healthy -- striking out 6 and walking 3 per game. He spent 2011 with the Kansas City Royals, going 6-16 with a 4.82 ERA.

The rumored deal follows the Reds' trade for Wilson Valdez earlier today and the Willie Harris signing from Monday.

• Twitter / @Ken_Rosenthal - Source: #Reds close to signing free-agent LHP Jeff Francis to minor-league deal.
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