Jeff Wallace MLB profile

        The Reds claimed Jeff Wallace, a left-handed reliever, off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates and cleared roster room for him Friday by releasing outfielder Kimera Bartee, who spent most of this year at Triple-A Louisville.

        Acquiring Wallace could bring the Reds closer to using Dennys Reyes, another left-hander, as a starter. At 23, Reyes' considerable talent has remained mostly dormant as a situational reliever.

        The Reds' rotation has been thinned by the offseason trades of Ron Villone and Steve Parris.

        Reds general manager Jim Bowden said any decision to try Reyes as a starter will rest with manager Bob Boone and pitching coach Don Gullett.

        “It certainly has been a subject we've talked about internally,” Bowden said. “Obviously, we like developing young starting pitchers. Reyes, Clayton Andrews (obtained from Toronto for Parris), Chris Reitsma (obtained from Boston for Dante Bichette) and Ed Yarnall (obtained from the New York Yankees for Denny Neagle) are guys we need to bring along. Obviously, we can't afford to sign the (Mike) Mussinas and (Mike) Hamptons and Neagles. So you develop your own. We have to look at all options.”

        Wallace, 24, is eligible for salary arbitration. But with a 3-0 record and no saves in 90 career appearances, he is unlikely to burden the Reds' payroll.

        Wallace was 2-0 with an inflated 7.07 ERA in 38 games this year with Pittsburgh. But the Reds got plenty of looks at him and liked what they saw. Six of his outings were against the Reds; he was charged with no runs in four of them. Overall against Cincinnati, Wallace yielded three runs and seven hits in 4ö innings.

        The Reds also named Mike Greenwell hitting coach at Double-A Chattanooga. Greenwell, 37, hit .303 in 12 seasons with Boston.

Reds get reliever Wallace

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