When the Reds began dismantling the 2003 team, the company line was they were doing it to build for the future.

Will the plan work? That largely depends on how eight pitchers - ages 19 to 24 - perform over the next few years.

If they're good, the Purge of 2003 will be seen as wise management, a step forward on the road to success. If they aren't, it will be seen as a fire sale, a step back on the road to mediocrity.

The Reds got Matt Belisle, Jeff Bruksch, Brandon Claussen, Phillip Dumatrait, Aaron Harang, Charlie Manning, Tyler Pelland and Joe Valentine in the trades that sent away Scott Williamson, Aaron Boone, Jose Guillen, Gabe White and Kent Mercker.

Only Harang and Valentine have pitched in the majors. The Reds are expecting some of the others to get to the big leagues, too.

How many?

"You can't predict," Reds assistant general manager Brad Kullman said. "I wouldn't think all eight. The more you have, if you have quality, the more you increase the odds."

As many as four of the eight - Harang, Claussen, Valentine and Belisle - could be with the Reds when the club breaks camp and heads north next spring.

"I think the fans are looking forward to seeing these guys," Reds player development director Tim Naehring said. "I think they'd rather see young guys they can attach to rather than see 33-, 34-year-old guys who are going to be there for a start or two."

Claussen, formerly the New York Yankees' top prospect, is the key. He could develop into the No. 1 starter - the most elusive piece to the Reds' puzzle.

The Reds chose to shut down Claussen for the year rather than call him up for September.

"We didn't feel there was a lot for him to prove at Triple-A," Kullman said. "We didn't think it was in his best interest to bring him up here in September because of the workload he's had with (Tommy John elbow) surgery."

Here's a look at each of the eight pitching hopes:

• Belisle, 23, right-hander: He's the player-to-be-named in the Mercker trade with Atlanta.

He was a second-round pick in 1998. He combined to go 2-4 with a 3.13 ERA at Triple-A.

He missed 2001 with back surgery but has impressed the Louisville staff with his conditioning.

"He's shown a sneaky fastball," Naehring said. "He has pretty good command."

• Bruksch, 23, right-hander: He's probably the longest shot of the eight to make it. He was the third pitcher in the Guillen deal with Oakland.

He was 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts for Single-A Potomac after the trade.

• Claussen, 24, left-hander: He is the prize of the eight, if the reports are right.

"He has a great idea of how to pitch," Naehring said. "All his pitches are a tick above. He has great command on the fastball and the breaking ball."

He was 0-1 with a 7.47 ERA with the Bats. He was 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA before the trade.

"I believe, and the organization believes, he has a chance to be there when the bell rings for the start of 2004," Naehring said.

• Dumatrait, 22, left-hander: He came over in the deal with Boston for Williamson.

Dumatrait, a first-rounder in the 2000 draft, was 4-1 with a 3.35 ERA at Potomac. He has a superior curveball.

He'll go on the 40-man roster in the offseason, meaning he'll be in big-league camp.

"He's a guy who could move very quickly," Kullman said. "He could be one who starts at Double-A, jumps to Triple-A and ends up here."

• Harang, 24, right-hander: Harang is the player with whom fans are most familiar because he has been pitching in the majors almost since the trade.

Harang is a big guy - 6 feet 7, 240 pounds - who throws hard (up to 93 mph).

He won his first three starts, lost the next two and had to leave Friday's start after one inning with a lower back strain.

He was a winner in the minors - a career record of 45-21.

• Manning, 24, left-hander: He was the second pitcher obtained in the Boone deal with the Yankees. He was dazzling at Potomac - 5-0 with a 1.19 ERA in six starts.

He started the season at Double-A, but the Yankees sent him down when he struggled.

• Pelland, 19, left-hander: He was the player-to-be-named in the Williamson deal with Boston.

The Reds barely got him before the season ended.

"He was probably the No. 1 prospect in the Gulf Coast League," Naehring said.

Pelland, the Red Sox's ninth-round pick in 2001, was 3-4 with a 1.51 ERA in the Gulf Coast.

"He's a power arm with a good curveball," Naehring said. "He's someone who could move up quickly."

• Valentine, 23, right-hander: He is the hardest thrower of the eight - hitting up to 97 mph on the radar gun.

He made two appearances for the Reds and did not look ready, allowing five runs in two innings.

"He needs to work on his command," Naehring said. "If that comes around, he can be in the big leagues in the short term."

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com

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