Saturday, December 12, 1998

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Steve Avery

NASHVILLE - The Reds' signing of Steve Avery to a one-year contract with a mutual option for a second season Friday not only demonstrated their faith in the 28-year-old left-hander, but also reinforced their belief in pitching coach Don Gullett.

Gullett has displayed an aptitude for reviving the careers of struggling pitchers, most notably Pete Schourek and Pete Harnisch. Now comes Avery, whose 10-7 mark this season with the Boston Red Sox belies the troubles he has endured. He can still be effective, as Boston's 16 victories in his 23 starts showed. But his 5.02 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 123 2/3 innings show he's no longer the power pitcher who dazzled the National League in the early 1990s.

"This is a pitcher who Don's been after me for a long time to get," Reds General Manager Jim Bowden said. "Very rarely does he give me a recommendation on a pitcher. But when he does, it has worked out. He thinks he can get Steve back to the way he was in Atlanta, to the 15-win range."

Said Avery, who won 18 games twice and owns a 88-76 career record in nine major-league seasons, "You always want to work with someone who wants to work with you."

Terms of Avery's deal weren't disclosed, but sources said it guarantees him $1.5 million - a $500,000 base salary with a $1 million buyout if he's traded. Another $1 million in performance bonuses garnishes the contract.

Avery was 47-25 with Atlanta from 1991-93, his first three full major-league seasons. But shoulder problems plagued him in 1995-96, when he posted records of 7-13 and 7-10.

Avery adjusted, as any player bent on survival must do. He began throwing more offspeed pitches from a three-quarters delivery, contrasting with the straight-overhand style he flashed with the Braves. He said he'd like to resume throwing overhand, since throwing with a lower release point robbed his fastball of 5 mph. "Last year, I was a totally different pitcher," said Avery, who cited the desire to return to the NL as a factor in choosing the Reds over three other teams. "A lot of people told me, 'You've learned how to pitch.' "

Avery will compete with Dennys Reyes and Jason Bere for the fourth or fifth spots in the starting rotation behind Pete Harnisch, Denny Neagle and Brett Tomko.

"We all know we're going to use at least six starters. Probably around seven or eight," Bowden said.

Avery's best season was 1991, when he finished 18-8 and defeated Pittsburgh twice in the National League Championship Series to capture MVP honors.

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