12/23/2003 1:46 PM ET

Reese gets second chance with Sox

By Ian Browne / MLB.com

 

BOSTON -- Pokey Reese's second stint with the Red Sox can't help but last longer than his previous endeavor.

 

This time, Reese will actually get to don a Boston uniform and play a game at Fenway Park.

 

The Sox signed the second baseman and two-time Gold Glove winner Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract.

 

Back on Dec. 19, 2001, the Sox acquired Reese in a trade with Colorado for Scott Hatteberg. But Reese became a free agent two days later, when the Sox didn't offer him a contract.

 

That is why he spent the last two seasons in Pittsburgh instead of Boston.

 

"Two years ago, I wished the deal would have went through," Reese said. "Just to be in that lineup and be in the city of Boston, knowing these people love baseball ... Now, to be a part of that, I can't wait to get to Spring Training to be part of the Boston mystique. It's great, I'm looking forward to it."

 

 

Reese is expected to be the starting second baseman for the Sox, who did not retain free agent Todd Walker. The position has been one of constant motion for the Sox: Reese will be the team's fourth starter in the last four years.

 

Rey Sanchez played the position for Boston in 2002, replacing Jose Offerman.

 

Reese is a defensive stalwart at second, and has also played shortstop and third base in his career.

 

While Reese isn't likely to match the 166 hits registered by Walker in 2003, he is going to shrink the number of hits given up by Boston pitchers.

 

The Red Sox are projecting a rotation with two groundball specialists in Derek Lowe and Byung-Hyun Kim.

 

"Pokey was really attractive to us because we thought he was a great fit with the club we have right now," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "He's one of the few players in baseball who can really make an impact with his glove. He's an outstanding defensive second baseman and that will make a huge difference for us. We gave up more hits than any other club in baseball through the right side of the infield last year and that will change in a hurry. I think his acquisition makes our pitching staff a lot better on its own."

 

One thing Reese made clear right away during his Tuesday conference call is that he has a world of respect for Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez.

 

"My goal was to one day play behind Pedro and I got that opportunity and couldn't turn it down," said Reese. "His track record speaks for itself, he's a big-game pitcher."

 

After a couple of tough years individually and team-wise in Pittsburgh, Reese is ecstatic to be joining a team the caliber of the Red Sox.

 

"It's a great opportunity for me to really show what I can do on the defensive side of the ball," Reese said. "They've added (Curt) Schilling and (Keith) Foulke and they have Lowe and (Mike) Timlin."

 

The 30-year-old Reese's 2003 season was ruined on May 13, when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. He played just 37 games, hitting .215.

 

But he's over that injury and ready to crank it up when the Red Sox report to Fort Myers, Fla. in February.

 

"(The thumb) is doing great," Reese said. "I've been working out for the last two, two and a half months, doing everything, lifting and swinging, it's fine."

 

While Reese is most known for his stellar defense, he also brings speed to the table. He has 138 stolen bases in 162 career attempts.

 

Reese began his career with the Reds in 1997 and was so highly regarded there that general manager Jim Bowden wouldn't part with him during trade negotiations for Ken Griffey Jr.

 

The area in which Reese has struggled for most of his career is on offense. He is a .251 career hitter, with 41 homers and 242 RBIs.

 

But with everyone but Walker expected to return to a lineup that broke Major League records in slugging percentage and extra bases last season, the Sox won't need Reese to be a star with his bat.

 

"Pokey is also a terrific runner and hopefully he'll fit OK into our lineup too," Epstein said. "He's never had a chance to hit in a lineup like this so we might see more out of him offensively as well. He complements what we already have and makes us that much better."

 

Last week, the Sox acquired second baseman Mark Bellhorn in a trade with the Rockies, and he will likely serve as Reese's backup.

 

"Pokey has a tremendous opportunity to play an awful lot here," Epstein said. "We know he brings a lot to the table. If he plays like he's capable, he's going to be out there quite a bit."

 

Which will be bad news for hitters trying to go up the middle against the Red Sox.

I thought for a second he was going back to Cinci