By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Chris Reitsma was heading from his home in Calgary to Phoenix Wednesday. The weather is sure to be warmer, but Reitsma will get no warm and fuzzy treatment from the Reds' group there.

That's because Reitsma and the Reds will go before an arbitrator to decide whether Reitsma is paid the $1.45 million he has requested, or the $950,000 the Reds have offered for this season. Reitsma, a 26-year-old right-hander, made $350,000 last year.

Arbitration hearings can be rough on players. The Reds will make their case by pointing out Reitsma's shortcomings.

"That's what I've heard," Reitsma said. "I'm going in with an open mind and hope to learn from it."

Reitsma understands how the two sides arrived at this impasse.

"My situation is unique," he said. "I haven't done one thing for three years. I haven't started or middle relieved or closed the whole time. It's a little more difficult to put me in a bracket."

The sides have continued to talk, so a settlement is possible.

"Arbitration is a last resort," Reds general manager Dan O'Brien said. "No one wants to go to the hearing. But we're not optimistic (about avoiding arbitration)."

Reitsma's representatives - Brian Goldberg and Michael Paolercio - are willing to split the difference and settle in the $1.2 million range.

"We're going to circle the middle area," Goldberg said. "The Reds haven't come off their figure."

The Reds rarely go to arbitration. They've gone to a hearing only five times in the last five years - three of those were in 2001. The club won four of the five cases.