Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds got a bottom of the ninth inning win.
The Reds beat Fridahy’s 1 p.m. Major League Baseball deadline for arbitration by signing outfielder Billy Hamilton, starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani and reliever Michael Lorenzen to one-year contracts.
However, the Reds still failed to negotiate contracts with third baseman Eugenio Suarez and second baseman Scooter Gennett.
According to reports, Hamilton signed a deal worth #4.6 million, Lorenzen $1.31 million and DeSclafani $860,000.
DeSclafani was expected to be the ace of the staff last season but missed the entire season with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
In a 2016 season shortened by a strained left oblique, the right-hander went 9-5 with a 3.28 ERA with one complete game in 20 starts spanning 123 1/3 innings. He made $585,000 in ‘17.
Hamilton — a topic of trade rumors during the offseason — batted .247 with a .299 on-base percentage, 85 runs and a career-high 59 steals over 139 games in 2017.
Eligible for arbitration for a second straight year, Hamilton avoided the hearing last offseason by signing a one-year deal worth $2.625 million.
Although a reliever last season, Lorenzen is expected tol compete for a rotation spot this spring.
Lorenzen has been working exclusively out of the bullpen the past two seasons.
He finished 8-4 with a 4.45 ERA in a career- and team-high 70 appearances in 2017 while earning $555,000.
Lorenzen was considered a Super Two player, which allowed him early eligibility for arbitration after two-plus years of service time.
Negotiations for Suarez and Gennett can continue up until their scheduled arbitration hearing that will be held between Jan. 29 and Feb. 16.
However, in past years the Reds the club has stayed firm with  a policy of going to arbitration hearings once figures are exchanged.
Suarez and Gennett would have their cases against the club heard before a three-person panel, which will choose between one side’s salary proposal over the other’s for a binding one-year contract.
Suarez, who is eligible for arbitration for the first time, batted .260/.367/.461 with 26 home runs and 82 RBIs in 156 games last season.
Claimed off of waivers from the Brewers at the end of Spring Training, Gennett emerged with a career year as he hit .295/.342/.531 with 27 homers and 97 RBIs in 141 games. Eligible for the second time, he signed a contract worth $2.525 million with Milwaukee in 2017.