Steve Reed

Signed as an undrafted free agent by San Francisco in 1988, Reed reached the big leagues with the Giants in August 1992. He was taken by the Rockies in the fourth-round of the expansion draft that November, and spent five seasons as a reliable bullpen workhouse for Colorado. Employing a sinking fastball, slider and changeup, the right-hander led the majors with 61 appearances during the strike-shortened 1994 season. Reed pitched in a career-high 71 games the next year, posting a 2.14 ERA while notching five wins and three saves. He left the Rockies as the franchise’s career leader in both games pitches (329) and ERA (3.68).

Reed returned to San Francisco for half a season in 1998, but was traded to Cleveland on July 23rd along with outfielder Jacob Cruz in exchange for pitchers Jose Mesa and Al Morman and infielder/outfielder Shawon Dunston. He struggled in his 25 games with Cleveland (6.66 ERA) after the trade, but picked up the win in the decisive Game Four of the Tribe’s Division Series triumph over the Boston Red Sox. Reed worked as a setup man for Cleveland the next two years (his 57 games pitched in 2000 broke a string of seven straight seasons with at least 60 appearances), but was traded to Atlanta along with fellow reliever Steve Karsay in June 2001 for southpaw John Rocker.