Weathers accepts arbitration from Reds

Weathers accepted the Reds' offer of arbitration before a midnight ET deadline on Sunday. That means he will return for a one-year contract with his salary to be determined by a third-party arbiter.

Cincinnati placed Weathers back on its 40-man roster, which now carries 39 players.

Weathers was rated as a Type B free agent. Had he declined arbitration and signed with another team, the Reds would have received a supplemental first-round Draft pick in June.

Last season, as a key setup man in the seventh and eighth innings, he was 4-6 with a 3.25 ERA in 72 relief appearances. It was his sixth consecutive season with at least 70 games pitched.

Two of Weathers' 15 inherited runners scored on him this season. He had a 2.45 ERA over his final 36 appearances. In 2007 as Cincinnati's closer, he saved 33 games.

Before the 2007 season, Weathers signed a two-year contract worth $5 million. He made $2.75 million in 2008 and stands to get a considerable increase through the arbitration process.