Reds manager Dusty Baker plans to give Jeremy Hermida a decent amount of playing time against right-handed pitching.

"I'm trying to get some left-handers in the lineup and give Hermida some action since he's been playing every day (in the minors)," Baker said. Hermida started Wednesday in place of Jonny Gomes, who would figure to lose the most playing time with Hermida getting some at-bats. In reality, we doubt he plays more than 1-2 times per week, as Chris Heisey is deserving of some playing time, as well.

Reds signed OF Jeremy Hermida to a minor league contract.

The new deal also comes with an invitation to spring training, where Hermida will try to land a spot on the Reds' Opening Day roster as a backup outfielder. He batted just .216/.268/.351 in 222 at-bats last year.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, the Reds have signed outfielder Jeremy Hermida to a minor league contract.

Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reported earlier Monday that the two sides were close to a deal. Hermida, 26, will compete for a job as a left-handed bat off the bench during spring training. The former 2002 first-round pick has a feeble .246/.322/.390 batting line since the start of the 2008 season. There's still some potential here, but we're not expecting much.

According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, the Reds are close to signing Jeremy Hermida.

It would presumably be a minor league deal. The Reds have been in the market for a left-handed hitting outfielder and have also spoken with Scott Podsednik and Fred Lewis, who would undoubtedly come at a higher cost. The 26-year-old Hermida batted just .216/.268/.351 with six home runs and 29 RBI between the Red Sox and Athletics last season.

Red Sox sent OF Jeremy Hermida outright to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Hermida was designated for assignment just before July's trade deadline and drew very little interest on waivers. He was batting .203/.257/.348 for the Sox and may struggled to reach the bigs again this year.

Jeremy Hermida struck out all three times he was up Tuesday, lowering his average to .211.

It's worth wondering if the Red Sox might release Hermida when Jacoby Ellsbury comes off the DL. He drove in a bunch of runs for the team early, but he was struggling long before he landed on the disabled list and he doesn't offer as much as Darnell McDonald or Eric Patterson on defense.

Red Sox activated OF Jeremy Hermida from the 15-day disabled list.

Hermida was 4-for-19 (.211) in five minor league rehab games with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket. He hasn't played since June 9 due to fractured ribs. Hermida returns to a .217/.268/.384 batting line to go along with five home runs and 27 RBI over 138 at-bats.

Jeremy Hermida (ribs) was 1-for-4 with a single in his final minor league rehab game with Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday night.

Hermida was 1-for-8 over two games with the PawSox. Hermida will fly to Seattle on Wednesday to meet the Red Sox and is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Thursday.

Manager Terry Francona expects Jeremy Hermida (ribs) to be ready at some point during the Red Sox' west coast trip.

"The hope is, if he's OK, he'll meet us out in Seattle," Francona said. "I don't see any reason that won't happen." The Red Sox have a four-game series that starts in Seattle on Thursday. Hermida hasn't played since early June due to fractured ribs.

Jeremy Hermida (ribs) will be back with the Red Sox Sunday to be evaluated before being sent to Triple-A Pawtucket Monday.

The outfielder has gone 3-for-11 in three rehab games at Double-A. He figures to play a few more games at Triple-A and then get activated, assuming he doesn't suffer any setbacks. Hermida has been out since early June with fractured ribs.

Jeremy Hermida (ribs) went 2-for-4 with a single and a double on Thursday in his first rehab game with Double-A Portland.

Hermida will play another two games for Portland before moving on to Triple-A Pawtucket next week. If all goes well and he continues to shine at the plate, the Red Sox could activate him by the start of next weekend. His return will likely spell the end of Daniel Nava's fairytale run in the bigs.

Jeremy Hermida (ribs) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday with Double-A Portland.

Hermida has been out of commission since early June with fractures in his rib cage. He's likely to spend three or four days with the Portland SeaDogs before moving on to Triple-A Pawtucket. Look for him to return to the Red Sox's outfield by late July. He was batting .217/.268/.384 in 138 at-bats.

Jeremy Hermida (ribs) expects to begin a minor league rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break.

"I'm ready to get going," said Hermida, who is back to taking batting practice regularly. The outfielder has been sidelined since June 11 due to broken ribs.

Jeremy Hermida (ribs) reported feeling good after taking on-field batting practice Tuesday at Tropicana Field.

Hermida is on the disabled list but traveling with the Red Sox. He is slowly resuming baseball activities and is likely to return to the Boston lineup in about two weeks. The outfielder was batting .217/.268/.384 with five home runs and 27 RBI in 138 at-bats before injuring his rib cage.

Jeremy Hermida (ribs) will take batting practice Tuesday for the first time since landing on the 15-day disabled list.

Hermida has been sidelined since early June due to several fractures in his rib cage and is not expected to return to the Red Sox until late July. He was batting .217 with five home runs and 27 RBI before the injury. Darnell McDonald and Daniel Nava have done tremendous work in his absence.

Jeremy Hermida (ribs) swung at balls off a tee before Saturday night's game.

It was the fourth time in five days he's done so. The outfielder could take batting practice on the field as early as Tuesday, which would be the last step before going out on a rehab assignment. Assuming he has no setback, Hermida should be back with the Sox in a couple weeks.

Jeremy Hermida (ribs) has begun swinging a bat.

The outfielder had already been throwing, running and participating in outfield drills. With yet another hurdle crossed, he's close to being cleared for a minor league rehab assignment. Hermida has been sidelined since early June, when he broke his ribs in a collision with Adrian Beltre.

Jeremy Hermida (ribs) participated in some throwing, running, and outfield drills on Tuesday.

His condition is improving, however he is still not ready to hit, clouding the outlook on his possible return. Hermida has been sidelined since June 10 due to fractured ribs sustained in a collision with Adrian Beltre.

Jeremy Hermida doesn't currently have a timetable for his return from fractured ribs.

Hermida is eligible to come off the DL in a week, but it's doubtful that he'll be ready then. "We're just progressing and doing more and more activities every day," he said. "We took a few days and did some treatment stuff right after it happened, but we're slowly progressing into some baseball activities, some moving-around activities, some twisting and some turning, making sure it holds up OK."

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Red Sox could pursue outfield help with Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeremy Hermida on the disabled list and Mike Cameron playing hurt.

According to Rosenthal, the Red Sox could look for an everyday solution or a role player. It's probably still a little early for trade talk, but names like Andruw Jones and Austin Kearns will surely be floated at the deadline.