January 14, 2004

Charleston, SC - The Oakland A's announced Monday, January 12, that they have signed former Bulldog hurler Britt Reames to a minor league contract. Reames, a member of two Southern Conference Tournament championship teams and one regular season title team, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardninals in the 15th round of the 1995 Amateur Draft.

Since being drafted in 1995, Reames pitched in the 2000 National League Championship Series for St. Louis, before being traded to the Montreal Expos in 2001. In 2001 and 2002, he pitched in 41 and 42 games, respectively for the Expos.

Reames, an all-conference performer as a senior in 1995, has a career record of 7-13 with an earned run average of 5.00. In 205 innings of work since being called up to the Major Leagues in 2000 by the Cardinals, he has struck out 194.

In 2003, Reames, the 1995 Southern Conference all-tournament selection, posted a 5-13 win-loss mark at Triple-A Edmonton, while pitching in two games for the Montreal Expos from July 10-21. At Edmonton he pitched in 25 games, 20 of which he earned the starting nod. In 118 innings pitched, Reames struck out 86 and walked only 46.

One of eight pitchers signed to a free-agent contract by Oakland, Reames will be a non-roster invitee with the A's during Spring Training.

Reames may not be the only former Bulldog on one of Major League Baseball's 30 opening day rosters. Dallas McPherson, who was drafted in the second round by the Anaheim Angels in 2001, was named to the Angels' 40-man roster and will be a roster invitee to Spring Training.