Starting pitcher Rick Reed has agreed to terms with the Pirates on a one-year contract and will compete for the fifth spot in the rotation as a non-roster invitee in spring training.

Reed, who broke in with the Pirates 16 years ago, is coming off a disappointing season with the Twins and became a free agent when Minnesota declined to pick up the right-hander's $8 million option for 2004. He was interested in returning to the New York Mets, for whom he won 51 games in four seasons, including a career-high 16 games in 1998. But his agent was critical of how the Mets handled negotiations.

Reed, 38, is from Huntington, W.Va., pitched for Marshall University and is pleased to sign with a club within a four-hour drive of home. Terms were not disclosed, and the deal is contingent on him passing a physical.

The Pirates had been looking to add some depth and spur some competition among starting pitchers. Ryan Vogelsong, Dave Williams and Sean Burnett, who pitched last year at Class AA Altoona, also will be in the mix for the fifth spot.

Vogelsong has an option left, meaning the Pirates would not risk losing him on waivers if he were assigned to Nashville. Williams and Burnett also have options.

Reed finished last season in the Twins' bullpen after making 21 starts. He was 6-12 with a 5.07 ERA for the Twins, with whom he had signed a three-year, $21.75 million deal before the 2001 season.

But he was effective the previous season, posting a 15-7 mark and a 3.78 ERA.

In his 1988 debut with the Pirates, Reed beat the Mets in his first career start. He was 4-7 with the Pirates over four seasons but failed to win a spot in the rotation. He subsequently signed with the Kansas City for the 1992 season.

Reed had expressed interest in returning to the Mets. But his agent, Phil Tannenbaum, told the New York media Friday that the Mets were "extremely unprofessional" because General Manager Jim Duquette was slow in returning his phone call.

"I can assure you this will definitely be reflected in the [Mets'] win-loss column this year," Tannenbaum said.

Reed also would have had to compete for a roster spot with the Mets, who insisted that nothing disparaging was intended in their handling of the matter.

"I'm sorry that Phil's ego was bruised that I didn't return his call, but there was no intention of slighting Rick Reed," Duquette told The New York Post. "We made a very sincere offer with the intent of having him come back if he made our club. There was no certainty that he was going to make our club. We wish him luck."

Reed also considered a similar deal from the Cincinnati Reds and had discussion with several other teams.

He has a career record of 93-76 with a 4.03 ERA in 273 appearances, including 245 starts. He has pitched for the Pirates, Royals, Texas Rangers, Reds, Mets and Twins.