Reds general manager Dan O'Brien had arranged for a meeting over lunch at Montgomery Inn between himself, Casey and Reds field manager Dave Miley.

"We just kind of talked about the direction they want to go," Casey recalled Friday. "I really think there's a vision as far as what they want to do.

"They expressed to me they wanted me to be part of that. I expressed back that I really wanted to be part of that."

And he will be.

The Reds exercised their 2006 team option on the All-Star first baseman Friday, assuring the fan and clubhouse favorite will remain with the team for the next two seasons, barring a trade.

"First and foremost I think this sends a signal to Sean about how we feel about him and his involvement in what we're trying to do with this organization," O'Brien said. "I also think it's indicative that we expect Sean to be a cornerstone over the next couple of years. Not only in terms of on the field, but off the field as well."

Casey, who enjoyed one of his best professional seasons in 2004, will make $7.8 million next year and $8.5 million in 2006.

The Reds had until Monday to decide whether to pick up Casey's 2006 team option. But even if they hadn't exercised the option Friday, Casey could've triggered it next season through various provisions in his contract.

"Hopefully it sends a message to the fans that we're looking to win here," Casey said. "We're not looking to just move players. We're looking to sign players and move in the right direction."

During the Reds' 86-loss campaign last season - their fourth consecutive losing season - Casey was a continual bright spot.

In 146 games, he batted .324 with 44 doubles, 24 home runs and 99 RBI and was named an All-Star for the third time in his career.

Casey led the Reds in seven offensive categories while ranking fifth in the National League with 57 multi-hit games, seventh in batting average and doubles and ninth with 185 hits.

Since coming to the Reds in a trade with the Indians on the eve of the 1998 season, he has batted .304 (10th-highest in franchise history) and averaged 134 games per season.

"That's the type of bat we need in the lineup," O'Brien said. "Just his consistency, day in and day out, leads us to think there's no reason that won't maintain, if not improve, over the next couple of years."

Casey underwent arthroscopic surgery to "clean out" his right knee Oct. 5 but will be ready for spring training. The injury did not force him to miss any time during the season.

"I'm walking well," he said. "I feel good. Everything is coming along great."

With the departure of captain Barry Larkin, whose 19-year career with his hometown Reds ended rather unceremoniously earlier this month, the spirited and tenured Casey would seem an easy choice to fill the vacant leadership role.

Miley and his coaching staff, O'Brien said, will make the decision.

"If I'm asked to be captain, I would embrace it," Casey said. "If I'm not, and they decide not to have a captain, I would embrace that too, to say, 'Hey, we all have a responsibility on this team to lead.' "

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