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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 11:37 a.m., Thursday, December 4, 2008

MLB: Reliever Lincoln, Reds agree to $4M, 2-year deal

Associated Press

CINCINNATI — Reliever Mike Lincoln agreed to stay with the Cincinnati Reds, accepting a $4 million, two-year contract following a comeback season.

The 33-year-old right-hander was 2-5 with a 4.48 ERA in a career-high 64 games this year. He missed more than three seasons following elbow-ligament replacement surgery in July 2004 while with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The deal announced today includes salaries of $1.5 million this year and $2.5 million in 2010.

He can earn an additional $250,000 based on games: $25,000 each for 45 and 50 games, $50,000 each for 55 and 60 games and $100,000 for 65 games. He also could get $300,000 based on starts: $50,000 for 12 and each addition three starts through 27.

The deal also includes $450,000 based on games finished: $50,000 each for 20, 25, 40, and $100,000 each for 40, 45 and 50.

Any bonuses earned for games and starts would be added to his 2010 base.

Last season, he pitched at least two innings in 12 games, and he got out the first hitter he faced 49 of 64 times, for a bullpen staff-leading .766 percentage.