"When the names Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo popped up on the old rumor mill last week, the immediate thought was the Reds were in a position where they had to shed payroll.

That may no longer be the case now that the club has reworked and extended Scott Rolen's contract. Rolen gave up some salary for 2010 in exchange for some added security down the road.

Rolen will make $6 million, instead of $11 million, this season. He'll get a $5 million signing bonus deferred over the length of the contract and make $6.5 million in 2011 and 2012.

"It was something he was willing to do to help us out," assistant general manager Bob Miller said.

The Reds' payroll budget was about as tight as a piano string. Before Rolen's deal was reworked, nine players - Harang ($12.5 million), Francisco Cordero ($12 million), Rolen ($11 million), Arroyo ($11 million), Brandon Phillips ($6.75 million), Willy Taveras ($4 million), Ramon Hernandez ($3 million), Mike Lincoln ($2.5 million) and Arthur Rhodes ($2 million) - were due $65.25 million for 2010."