By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Benny Agbayani chases down a fly ball in this 2002 file photo. (AP file photo) | ZOOM |

SARASOTA, Fla. - In search of some pop off the bench, the Reds signed outfielder Benny Agbayani to a minor league contract.

Agbayani was released Wednesday by the Boston Red Sox.

He is expected in camp today.

Agbayani, 31, split time between the Colorado Rockies and the Red Sox last season. He hit .227 with four home runs and 21 RBI in 61 games.

His best year was with the New York Mets in 2000, when he hit .289 with 15 homers and 60 RBI.

"He gives us depth at Triple-A in case of an injury," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said.

DH LARSON: Brandon Larson will be used as a designated hitter again today when the Reds play the Twins in Fort Myers.

"We're using it because it's available to us," Reds manager Bob Boone said. "We want to be careful with that injury."

Larson missed almost two weeks with a pulled rib cage muscle. It bothers him most when he throws.

Larson is having no trouble at the plate. He followed his three-hit, three-RBI performance on Thursday with a solo home run in the Reds' 8-5 loss to the Red Sox Friday.

WILLIAMSON THROWS: Scott Williamson pitched Friday in the Reds' 10-5 loss to Detroit. It was his first action in a week.

Williamson had shut it down because of a fracture on the middle finger of his right hand.

In one inning, he struck out one and allowed a solo home run to Dmitri Young.

"(The finger) swelled up a bit," he said. "I might have to take three or four more days off. My arm felt great. I made some good pitches."

HE'S BACK: Young made the trip with the Tigers. It was Young's first trip to Sarasota since the Reds traded him to Detroit.

"It's kind of strange," he said.

Young is living through Detroit's rebuilding.

"I had to get a (media guide), so I'd know who some of these guys are," he said.

ACEVEDO OUT: Right-hander Jose Acevedo's shellacking - seven runs in three innings - in the loss to Detroit got him optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Only two of the runs were earned, but Acevedo has allowed 19 hits in 121/3 innings this spring.

HARNISCH'S DEBUT: Pete Harnisch will pitch in a game for the first time Sunday - probably a minor league game.

"It's doesn't matter where," Gullett said. "It's just a matter of getting him into competition."

PITCHING SCHEDULE: The Reds pushed Jimmy Anderson back a day so Ryan Dempster could pitch today.

Danny Graves will start the other game of Monday's split-squad doubleheader.

Graves threw a bullpen session Thursday - the first time he's thrown since injuring his right knee.

"It went well," pitching coach Don Gullett said. "No problems."

SHORT EXPERIMENT: Bobby Basham's and Dustin Moseley's stay in the big leagues only lasted five days.

Basham and Moseley were re-assigned to the minor league camp Friday after being promoted to the big league camp Monday.

Each appeared in two games. Basham was 1-0 with 0.00 ERA, although he allowed four unearned runs Thursday against Baltimore in Fort Lauderdale. Moseley had an 8.10 ERA in 42/3 innings.

The roster is down to 40 after Acevedo, Basham and Moseley were cut loose.

PAYBACK: Aaron Boone and Dempster will be giving back part of their salaries to the Reds. The players are going together to buy an $85,000 luxury box at Great American Ball Park.