Cooke will compete for rotation
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati EnquirerThe Reds haven't been able to sign a quality starting pitcher because of budget constraints, so they're taking the quantity approach. The team announced Monday it had signed free-agent left-hander Steve Cooke.
Cooke's signing came a day after the Reds added David Weathers and a two weeks after they traded for Mark Hutton. Cooke, 27, like Weathers and Hutton, is young with a lot of experience.
Cooke was 9-15 with a 4.30 ERA with the Pittsburgh Pirates last year.
Cooke, Weathers and Hutton, who was obtained in the trade for Curtis Goodwin, will compete for spots in the rotation. It is beginning to look like open auditions.
''That's the way it is,'' Reds manager Jack McKeon said. ''You hope to get lucky with one of these guys.''
The Reds first three spots in the rotation are set with Dave Burba, Brett Tomko and Mike Remlinger. Gabe White and Jim Crowell will compete with Hutton, Weathers and Cooke for the other two spots. Cooke is the one McKeon knows the least about.
''I didn't see him last year at all,'' McKeon said. ''But he's an experienced guy with a good arm.''
Jim Leyland called Cooke ''the best pitching prospect the Pirates ever developed'' in 1993. He made 32 starts that year and was 10-10 with a 3.89 ERA.
His numbers slipped in 1994 - 4-11, 5.02 ERA - and he suffered shoulder problems in '95 and '96, pitching only briefly in the majors.
The Reds signed Weathers for $275,000 for one-year. Cooke probably came in the same price rage. He made $300,000 last year.