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Reds said to have cut ties with outfielder Paul

Deadline passes; club announcement expected regarding arbitration-eligible players

CINCINNATI -- The Reds did not offer a 2014 contract to arbitration-eligible outfielder Xavier Paul before Monday's deadline, The Associated Press reported.

Another outfielder, Derrick Robinson, also was non-tendered in an expected move since the rookie was already designated for assignment last week to open a roster spot for free-agent signing Skip Schumaker.

Teams had until 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday to tender 2014 contracts to all of their unsigned players. A player who is non-tendered is effectively released from his club and becomes a free agent.

The Reds did not reveal their transactions officially as of 90 minutes past the deadline on early Tuesday morning.

Arbitration-eligible players who were expected to have been offered contracts are pitchers Homer Bailey, Aroldis Chapman, Mike Leake, Sam LeCure and Alfredo Simon, catcher Ryan Hanigan and outfielder Chris Heisey.

Paul, 28, batted .244 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs in 97 games this past season. He was originally signed by Cincinnati in July of 2012 after his release from the Nationals.

MLBTradeRumors.com projected that Paul would have earned $1 million next season if he'd gone through the arbitration process.

Next up for the eligible players is the filing for arbitration deadline of Jan. 14. Players and clubs exchange salary figures on Jan. 17 and arbitration cases are slated to be heard from Feb. 1-20.

Teams and players can continue to negotiate after arbitration is filed until the arbitrator makes a ruling. The Reds have not faced one of their players in an arbitration hearing since winning against reliever Chris Reitsma in 2004.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon.
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