By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Danny Graves. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

The Reds did better than avoid arbitration with closer-turned-starter Danny Graves. They signed him to a three-year contract Friday that will keep him with the Reds through the 2005 season.

The contract is worth $17.25 million - $5 million this year, $6 million in 2004 and $6.25 million in '05 with a mutual option for 2006. There's an escalator clause that increases the contract's value if Graves remains a full-time starter.

The Reds signed Aaron Boone, Jason LaRue, Ryan Dempster and Scott Williamson to one-year deals Thursday. The only arbitration-eligible Red who hasn't signed is left-hander Bruce Chen.

"We're very pleased," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. "We put a lot of work into this. One of our goals is to tie up our nucleus of young players as we move into Great American Ball Park. Danny's an important part of that. He's been one of our best pitchers the last three years."

Graves went 7-3 with a 3.19 ERA in 68 games last season. He was the closer until Sept. 10, recording 32 saves - his third straight year with 30 or more.

Graves moved to the rotation and made four starts, going 1-0 with a 1.89 ERA. He is projected as a starter this season.

The contract is contingent on Graves passing a physical. He will be examined Monday.

The Reds and Graves exchanged arbitration figures in the event he doesn't pass the physical. The Reds offered $5.25 million; Graves countered with $6.7 million.

In Chen's case, the Reds offered $700,000; he countered with $830,000.

The Reds also outrighted right-hander Brian Reith to Triple-A Louisville. Reith, who was 8-13 with a 5.02 ERA in Triple-A last year, was invited to spring training.