KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - Left-hander Mark Redman agreed Friday to a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, who learned a day earlier that Mike Hampton will be sidelined for up to two months.

Redman is to start tomorrow's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, an outing that had been scheduled for Hampton. If Redman is added to the 40-man roster, he would get a 750-thousand dollar, one-year contract and the chance to earn 500-thousand dollars in performance bonuses based on starts.

The Braves have John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Chuck James at the
front of their rotation. With the loss of Hampton, Redman joins Kyle Davies and Lance Cormier as leading contenders to fill the last two spots. Davies is considered the favorite for the Number four slot.

The 33-year-old Redman was an A-L All-Star last year, when he went 11-and-10 with a five-point-71 E-R-A for the Kansas City Royals. An eight-year major league veteran, he is 64-and-76 with a four-point-65 E-R-A in 186 starts and 12 relief appearances.

Hampton, coming off reconstructive elbow surgery that caused him
to miss last season, strained his left oblique during batting practice Wednesday.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)