by Ken Rosenthal

MLB Hot Stove

Ken Rosenthal and our MLB crew have you covered. Check out all the news and notes from the hot stove. Angels sign Abreu to 1-year deal Sources: Nats land Dunn w/2-year deal Updates: Lefty relievers getting offers Wolf, Dodgers agree to $5M deal Sources: Mets ink deal to keep Perez Braves, Kotchman avoid arbitration Sources: Rays, Shouse OK deal Report: Varitek to stay with BoSox Mets, Maine avoid arbitration Pirates sign P Maholm to 3-year deal

Nix, 28, has agreed to a minor-league contract that will pay him $600,000 if he makes the Reds' roster with performance bonuses that could push the total to $1.1 million, according to his agent, Don Mitchell.

The Reds currently have only three outfielders on their 40-man roster -- Jay Bruce, Chris Dickerson and Norris Hopper. They recently sent Ryan Freel to the Orioles in a deal for catcher Ramon Hernandez.

Nix, who plays all three outfield positions, produced 48 home runs and 140 RBIs in 738 at-bats for the Brewers' Class AAA Nashville affiliate the past two seasons. He had only 24 combined at-bats in the majors.

Once one of the Rangers' top prospects, Nix ran into an outfield wall in July 2004, derailing his career with a shoulder injury that required surgery. He was sent to the Brewers on July 28, 2006 as part of the Carlos Lee trade.