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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Skip Schumaker is returning to the NL Central, completing a $5 million, two-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday that gives them a versatile player off the bench. Schumaker gets a $2 million base salary next season and $2.5 million in 2015. The deal includes a club option for 2016 with a $2.5 million base and a $500,000 buyout. The 33-year-old Schumaker was drafted by current Reds general manager Walt Jocketty and played his first eight seasons in St. Louis, batting .288 with 23 homers and 211 runs batted in. He played for the Dodgers last season, batting .263 in 125 games with two homers and 30 RBIs. He played second base and all three outfield positions last season. "Im not going to assume anything other than that Ill be off the bench, the role Ive been in the last couple of years in the major leagues," Schumaker said during a conference call. "I dont think it will be that much different -- being used off the bench more than anything." To open a spot on the 40-man roster, the Reds designated outfielder Derrick Robinson for assignment. Robinson split time between Triple-A Louisville and Cincinnati last season, batting .255 in 102 games for the Reds. Schumaker was interested in staying with the Dodgers, but got the impression he wasnt a priority during contract talks. When the Reds showed an interest, he quickly decided to take the offer rather than go deep into the off-season as a free agent. "I had a great time in LA and especially with the run we had to get to the playoffs, the whole deal of how we started, how we finished -- a pretty amazing run," he said. "I felt there was some unfinished business and maybe going back there. "During negotiations, I kind of felt like maybe I was on the backburner, maybe hold on and sit and wait and see how things developed and what was going on in their organization. And I really didnt want to wait. I felt so good about Cincinnati." The Reds have won 90 games and made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons, but failed to make it past the first round. They fired manager Dusty Baker after they lost the one-game wild card playoff in Pittsburgh. Schumaker said the Reds recent success was a major factor in his decision. "The first thing I wanted to do was sign with a team that has a chance to win," he said. "The Reds have been that way, one of the best teams in the National League the last three or four years. I knew that division really well. Walt Jocketty drafted me and gave me the opportunity to play professional baseball." Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Follow all the action live on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto, TSN Radio 690 in Montreal, TSN Radio 1260 in Edmonton and TEAM 1410 on Friday at 3pm et/Noon pt. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Klein went undrafted in the NFL last year following his senior season with the Wildcats. He was invited to the Houston Texans rookie camp, but was not offered a contract. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку!) - The Carolina Panthers won for the first time in seven games last week, were without Cam Newton due to a car accident this week, but somehow sit atop the much-maligned NFC South. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . A last-minute leveler ensured the two-time defending champion remained nine points ahead of Roma, which drew 0-0 at bitter rival Lazio in the capital derby. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Aaron Hill and Cliff Pennington hit home runs in the first inning for the Diamondbacks, who beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Friday night.NICE, France -- Defending champion Albert Montanes of Spain and fifth-seeded Dmitry Tursunov of Russia both won in straight sets Monday to move into the second round of the Open de Nice. Montanes beat Matthew Ebden of Australia 6-1, 6-3, while Tursunov defeated Aleksandr Nedovyesov of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-4. Montanes took a 4-0 lead in the opening set and saved the two break points he faced in the second set. Ebden had seven double-faults. Tursunov did not fface a break point while Nedovyesov dropped serve three times.dddddddddddd Argentine qualifier Leonardo Mayer and Frenchmen Nicolas Mahut and Paul-Henri Mathieu also won their first-round matches. Mayer rallied past Croatian wild-card entry Borna Coric 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, while the sixth-seeded Mahut overcame French qualifier Martin Vaisse 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2. Mathieu won the last nine games in his 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 win over compatriot Lucas Pouille. ' ' '