"CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman is reporting on Twitter that the Reds have agreed to sign free agent left-hander Jeff Francis to a minor-league deal.

Earlier, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal had Tweeted that the Reds were close to signing Francis to a minor-league deal.

Francis spent 2011 with the Royals, posting a 4.82 ERA in 31 starts. His record was 6-16. His 183 innings of work was his highest total since 2007 (when he went 17-9 for the Rockies and finished ninth in NL Cy Young voting), before he suffered a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the entire 2009 season.

In seven Major League seasons, Francis is 61-66 with a 4.78 ERA and a 1.430 WHIP. In five career starts against the Reds, Francis is 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.161 WHIP."