Reds Let Graves Go After Fan Incident

Closer Danny Graves was let go by the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, a day after he made an obscene hand gesture at a fan taunting him over his latest poor performance.

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 seats 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.

“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’ latest tough outing raised his earned-run average to 7.76. He was 1-1 and had 10 saves in 12 chances.

O’Brien said that Graves’ encounter with the fan wasn’t the main reason for the move.

“His performance has been unsatisfactory and unacceptable,” O’Brien said in a conference call. “It hasn’t been up to the standards we’ve come to expect for the Cincinnati Reds organization.”

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