CINCINNATI -- Pitcher Bronson Arroyo has passed his physical and signed a Minor League contract with the Reds.
The deal includes an invite to big league camp as a non-roster player during Spring Training. He will compete for the vacant fifth spot in the rotation against several other contenders, while likely providing a solid veteran influence.
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Arroyo, who will turn 40 on Feb. 24, has not pitched in the Major Leagues since 2014 with the D-backs because he needed surgeries on both his elbow and shoulder.
Arroyo signed a Minor League deal last season with the Nationals, but he was shut down in July when his elbow bothered him. He received stem-cell injections in August and said earlier this week that he felt good.
"I couldn't sit here and say I will be over the hump now," Arroyo said. "That's what Spring Training is going to be for -- to see how much my arm will take."
During his tenure with the Reds from 2006-13, Arroyo was 105-94 with a 4.05 ERA in 265 starts. Including his '05 season with the Red Sox, he pitched 200 or more innings in eight of the following nine seasons. He said he had no plans to negotiate deals with other clubs this winter and only wanted to sign with the Reds.
"I think if I'm healthy, I can make the club, especially this club. I went eight years and gave them 105 wins," Arroyo said. "I don't think I'm in a position for people to tell me that I don't have good enough stuff to get people out in the Major Leagues. I think the hitters will let me know that.
"Also, having [manager] Bryan Price, and him knowing what I can do. ... If I go out there and throw 85 mph, he's not going to be panicked as some managers might be."
As Spring Training nears, the Reds may be nearing another deal to address their bench. They are working on a Minor League deal with former Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings, a source confirmed to MLB.com.
Jennings, 30, spent all seven of his big league seasons with the Rays. He's a career .245/.322/.393 hitter with 55 home runs in 567 games.
Injuries plagued Jennings during his last few years in Tampa Bay. In '15, he was limited to 28 games because of left knee injuries and later a tooth infection that ended his season. In '16, he was bothered by a left knee contusion and a hamstring injury, limiting him to 65 games. Jennings batted .200/.281/.350 last season with seven homers and 20 RBIs before he was released on Aug. 26.