PITTSBURGH -- Right-hander Rick Reed will return to the team he broke into the majors with 16 years ago, agreeing Saturday to attend the Pittsburgh Pirates' spring training camp as a non-roster player.
The 38-year-old Reed was a career-worst 6-12 with a 5.07 ERA with Minnesota in 2003 after going 15-7 with a 3.78 ERA for the Twins in 2002.
He finished last season in the Twins bullpen after making 21 starts, then became a free agent when Minnesota declined to pick up his $8 million option for 2004. Reed made $8 million last year in the final season of his $21.75 million, three-year contract.
Reed spoke to six teams -- the Mets were his top choice -- before reaching terms with Pittsburgh, which is a four-hour drive from his Huntington, W.Va. hometown.
"Rick is very happy about it and the Pirates are extremely thrilled," Phil Tannenbaum, Reed's agent, said Saturday.
Reed also talked to the Reds about a similar deal because Cincinnati also is within driving distance from Huntington, where he pitched for Marshall University.
Reed debuted with the Pirates in 1988, beating the Mets in his first career start. He was 4-7 with the Pirates over the next four seasons, never winning a spot in their rotation, and subsequently signed with the Royals in 1992.
He didn't have his first double-digit win season until nine years after his debut, but won 13, 16, 11 and 11 games, respectively, for the Mets from 1997-2000 before signing with Minnesota.
Reed is 93-76 with a 4.03 ERA in 273 career appearances and 245 starts with the Pirates, Royals, Rangers, Reds, Mets and Twins.
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J. Darin Darst 
