Reds signed OF Brian Barton to a minor league contract.

Barton batted .254/.344/.370 with seven homers and 20 steals at the Triple-A level in 2009 but was released by the Dodgers just before the season last year. He ended up playing in the Independent Leagues for Newark, winning the batting title with a .375 mark. Now 28, the Aerospace Engineering major from Miami should be able to make something of himself in the "real world" if his baseball career doesn't pan out.