By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

New White Sox relief pitcher Scott Sullivan follows through on a pitch during the seventh inning Friday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

HOUSTON - When Sean Casey watched Scott Sullivan walk out of the Reds clubhouse Thursday night, he felt bad for the young players.

"The sad thing is a lot of those guys don't know how much Scott Sullivan means to this club," Casey said. "They'll never get to know what kind of leader he is."

The trade of Sullivan to the Chicago White Sox for a player to be announced devastated the few veterans the Reds have left.

That was clear Thursday night. Danny Graves fought back tears. Casey and Chris Reitsma sought out members of the media to let their displeasure be known.

"It's disturbing," Graves said Friday. "What you can do about it, I don't know. Is it going to be that everybody who makes a lot of money is going to be traded? A lot of it is business. We can't control it.

"We work for them."

The Reds are now down to playing with only 11 of the 25 players from the Opening Day roster. The heart of the bullpen - Sullivan, Gabe White, Kent Mercker and Scott Williamson - is gone.

Only three players who had major roles in the 96-win 1999 season - Graves, Casey and Barry Larkin - remain with the club.

The players were just getting used to all the changes when the Sullivan trade was made, and it got folks riled up again.

"I understand the frustration," said assistant general manager Brad Kullman, who made the Sullivan trade. "One of their best friends was traded. It's not easy to separate that from the business side of it."

The Reds will get Tim Hummel , a Triple-A third baseman, for Sullivan once Hummel clears waivers. Hummel, 24, is hitting .284 with 15 home runs and 78 RBI at Charlotte. Nice numbers, but Brandon Larson put up better ones at Triple-A Louisville.

"What the players have to understand is we're trying to win," Kullman said.

Casey said he does understand that, and he even buys into the Reds' recent retooling.

"I understand rebuilding," Casey said. "I understand bringing in all these young guys. But if you're going to bring in all these young guys, you need someone to teach them the ropes. Scott Sullivan is the perfect guy to do that."

Sullivan was second to Larkin in tenure on the Reds. But he had more than seniority to bring to the table.

Sullivan is a perfect Southern gentleman, the team chapel leader, a good family man and active in charitable causes.

"Sully is one of the best guys you'll ever meet - anywhere," Graves said.

Sullivan was also an organization guy. He was drafted by the Reds in 1993 and was developed in four minor league seasons. And he has been the workhorse of the bullpen since 1997.

Sullivan could be counted on for 100-plus innings a year.

"He's just a class act," Reds manager Dave Miley said.

He was also one of the club's leaders, particularly on the pitching staff.

"Absolutely," Graves said. "Sullivan was the biggest leader we had in a long time. He was perfect for these guys to learn from. He wasn't afraid to get on someone's butt when they got out of line.

"All Sully ever wanted to do was win."

Sullivan might get that chance with the White Sox, who entered Friday a half-game ahead in the American League Central.

Sullivan is a free agent after this year.

"That's what the players have to understand," Kullman said. "Like Mercker, he's a free agent after this year. They can choose any of the 30 teams."

There are plenty of people in the Reds' clubhouse who want Sullivan to choose the Reds.

"That's what we're all hoping for," Casey said.

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com