The Cincinnati Reds have signed free agent Willy Taveras to a two-year contract, the team said on Saturday. "Willy Taveras fills two significant needs for our ball club, a base-stealing threat at the top of the order and superior defence in centre field," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said in a statement on the team's website.
The 27-year-old Taveras led the Major Leagues with 68 stolen bases last season while with the Colorado Rockies and had a stolen-base percentage of .907. He also hit .251.