Athletics trade pitcher Saarloos to Reds

Kirk Saarloos has pitched once at Great American Ball Park _ enough to know what his new home is all about.

The Cincinnati Reds acquired the right-hander Tuesday in a trade that sent minor league reliever David Shafer to the Oakland Athletics. Each team will get a player to be named as well.

The 27-year-old Saarloos went 7-7 with two saves and a 4.75 ERA last season for the AL West champions. After being Oakland's No. 5 starter in 2005, he made 16 starts and 19 relief appearances last year, and figured he was headed for the bullpen again this season.

The Reds are trying to fill out their rotation and bolster a bullpen that was one of their biggest problems last season. Saarloos could fit in either spot.

"That will be something that gets decided in spring training," general manager Wayne Krivsky said. "He's done both. He gives you that kind of versatility to be used either way. We'll let him compete with the other people there."

Saarloos thinks the move represents a better chance for him to start. He figured Oakland's rotation was probably set, and he wasn't going to be in it.

"I knew something was going to happen in terms of some pitcher being moved by Oakland in the offseason," he said Tuesday night. "We had so many guys that fit the same roles, so I never put it out of the realm of possibility.

"Here I might have a little better opportunity in the competition (for a starting job). In my mind, in Oakland they have it set."

Last week, Saarloos and the Athletics avoided salary arbitration when they agreed on a one-year contract worth $1.2 million.

The right-hander throws a sinker and induces twice as many grounders as fly balls, a trait that will be handy in Cincinnati. Great American Ball Park is one of the most homer-friendly parks in the major leagues.

Saarloos gave up a career-high 19 homers in 121 1-3 innings last season. The previous year, he allowed only 11 homers in 159 2-3 innings.

Saarloos has pitched once at Great American, when he was beginning his career with Houston in the ballpark's inaugural season of 2003. The game left quite an impression.

Houston hit three consecutive homers in the first inning of a 9-8 win over the Reds. There were five homers in the game. Saarloos pitched in relief during Cincinnati's five-run ninth inning.

"What I know is it seems homers never get hit into the first or second row, they seem to go to the 23rd or 24th row," he said, laughing. "It seems they built it downhill for some reason."

Shafer, a 24-year-old right-hander, had 26 saves and a 2.36 ERA for Double-A Chattanooga last year.

The Reds also agreed to a minor league contract with infielder Mark Bellhorn and invited him to spring training. Bellhorn, 32, spent last season with San Diego, hitting .190 in 115 games with eight homers and 27 RBIs. The Reds are his sixth team in five years.