CINCINNATI -- Jeff Shaw, who has 203 career saves, may return to baseball -- but not necessarily as a closer.

The Reds and Shaw's agent, Joe Bick, have resumed discussions about the reliever possibly coming back to Cincinnati.

	Graves

	Shaw

Shaw would be willing to return to his former team in a different role, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported on Friday. Danny Graves is the current Reds closer. Graves has been terrific this season, converting 10 of 12 save opportunities with a sparkling 1.35 ERA through Thursday's games.

If Shaw came back to the Reds, he would likely assume the set-up role, which would give Cincinnati a powerful 1-2 punch for the eighth and ninth innings. Shaw has not worked as a set-up reliever since 1996.

"The last thing I want to do is cause turmoil on the team," Shaw told the newspaper. "They have Danny there right now, and he's pitching well."

The Reds traded Shaw to the Dodgers during the 1998 season. Shaw had 43 saves for the Dodgers last season, but Los Angeles did not exercise his $7.05 million option. More than six teams have contacted the free agent since the end of the season, but the Reds are the only team that interests him because Cincinnati is close to home.

Bick and Reds general manager Jim Bowden have agreed to meet next week. "They were interested in signing Jeff for the remainder of the current season and next year also," Bick told the Enquirer on Thursday.

According to the Enquirer, the Reds' last offer, in February, was $300,000 for 2002 and $3 million in 2003. Shaw rejected that offer, and Bick's counter-offer was also turned down.