DALLAS -- Still in need of starting pitching, the Reds could be part of the race to land free agent right-hander Matt Morris.
Cincinnati is one of a half-dozen teams in the running for Morris' services, agent Barry Axelrod said Wednesday.
"That's one of the teams under consideration, yes," Axelrod said during the third day of the baseball Winter Meetings at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas.
Talks have not reached the serious stage, however.
"Based on [Axelrod's] description of the situation, I would say this is still very much in the preliminary stages of discussion," Reds general manager Dan O'Brien said.
Axelrod would not name other teams seeking Morris' services, but there is speculation that the Mariners, Rangers, Cardinals and Giants are also pursuing the pitcher, who was 14-11 with a 4.11 ERA last season. The eight-year veteran owns a 101-62 record and 3.61 ERA, all with St. Louis.
Cincinnati would have money to spend once the still-pending Sean Casey for Dave Williams trade with Pittsburgh is finalized. Casey will earn $8.5 million in 2006, while Williams is due to make $1.4 million. Even with the Williams addition, the Reds still need to further upgrade a rotation that ranked last in ERA in the National League this past season.
Axelrod has not made public what kind of contract terms he was seeking for Morris.