The club's career saves leader was shocked by the decision to designate him for assignment, a move that ended his eight-year career in Cincinnati. The Reds have 10 days to trade him or put him on waivers.

\"I always knew this day would come,\" Graves said. \"I didn't think it would be so soon.\"

Graves gave up five ninth-inning runs in Cleveland's 9-2 victory Sunday at Great American Ball Park, then was booed and taunted by fans as he left the field.

He didn't react to the jeers as he walked off and got a drink in the dugout. When he moved to the end of the dugout by the bat rack, a man in one of the high-priced seats next nearby yelled at him. Graves yelled back and made an obscene hand gesture.

Graves spoke by telephone on Monday with general manager Dan O'Brien, who was out of town preparing for the amateur draft, and with other Reds officials.

\"A lot of the off-field emotions had something to do with it, and last night when I flipped the man off had something to do with it,\" Graves said. \"A fan cussed at me. I regret doing it. I planned on apologizing today.\"

Graves is in the final guaranteed year on a $17.25 million, three-year deal, making a base salary of $6.25 million. There was a mutual option for next season at $6.25 million, with no buyout.

If he clears waivers, a club could sign him for a prorated share of the $316,000 minimum, with the Reds paying the remainder of his salary.

It's getting harder and harder to take the Cincinnati Reds seriously.

Needing a bat from Triple A Louisville on Tuesday, they could have brought back Austin Kearns, who only hit three homers the day before. Instead they recalled former Phillies prospect Anderson Machado, who was batting .136.

Well, maybe they needed an infielder. No, manager Jerry Narron said Felipe Lopez will continue to play every day there and dispatched Machado to try catching some fly balls, even though he's never played outfield before.

Why Machado? Supposedly because his 20-day rehab was up, he's out of options and the organization didn't want to risk losing him through a waiver claim. As if there would have been a lot of interest. Others suspect Kearns is being punished for being outspokenly critical of the way the team is being run.

One more thing: The Washington Nationals had special assignment scout Bob Boone watching lefthander Eric Milton in San Francisco on Tuesday night and he reportedly turned in a favorable report. General manager Jim Bowden has had a longstanding interest in outfielder Wily Mo Pena, too.

But the word is that Reds general manager Dan O'Brien isn't even allowed to return Bowden's calls because, apparently, some in upper management still are holding a grudge against a guy who hasn't worked there since July 2003. \"They aren't going to do anything to help Jim win,\" said one Nationals insider.

Good grief.