CINCINNATI -- No free-agent players signed with the Reds on Friday, but the club still managed to bring in a big name.

Former Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty was hired to be a special advisor to owner/chief executive officer Bob Castellini.

Jocketty, who spent the previous 13 seasons as GM with St. Louis, will be involved with Castellini and general manager Wayne Krivsky in all matters relating to baseball operations.

"We are fortunate to be able to add to our baseball department someone who has had as much success in the game as Walt," Castellini said in a statement.

"Clearly, he is a proven winner and his experience will be invaluable to me and to our entire organization," Castellini said. "He wants to keep his hand in baseball this season. When you have the chance to hire someone with his credentials, you have to take advantage of that opportunity. We're doing everything we can to improve our franchise."

During the 56-year-old Jocketty's tenure, the Cardinals went to the postseason seven times and won the 2006 World Series. He was named Major League Baseball's Executive of the Year by The Sporting News in 2000 and 2004 and by Baseball America in 2000.

Jocketty and St. Louis mutually decided to part ways on Oct. 3, following a difficult 78-84 season. Since then, there was speculation he'd eventually join the Reds in some capacity because Castellini was once a minority shareholder with the Cardinals. That familiarity proved important as Jocketty accepted the job once Castellini reached out.

"We always had a very good relationship," Jocketty said from his home in St. Louis. "I always felt very comfortable with him. I think one thing that's important for people to understand -- we both share the same commitment and vision for winning. I looked at the organization and what Wayne has been able to accomplish in just a couple of years to getting this club to a point where I think we should be in a good position to start contending and contend for a long time."

Krivsky, who became Reds GM on Feb. 8, 2006, is signed through the 2008 season and will remain in his current position. The Reds went 80-82 and contended in the National League Central during Krivsky's first season but fell to 72-90 in 2007.

"Bob informed me this morning, and we talked it through about exactly what the duties were and how the reporting is," Krivsky said. "Nothing has changed from my standpoint. I'm still the general manager reporting directly to Bob. Everybody below me reports to me. Nothing has changed in that regard. We've just added another quality baseball person to the team that's experienced a lot in the GM's chair."

Although Krivsky will still be reporting to Castellini, there will be another voice now influencing final baseball decisions. However, Krivsky expected a harmonious working relationship with Jocketty, and believed they would be on the same page on many issues.

"Walt and I came up through the same training ground as far as how you build an organization with quality people and the emphasis is on scouting and development," Krivsky said. "That's how you go about building a winning team. We believe that continuity and stability of an organization is very important. All of your winning organizations have that."

Jocketty praised Krivsky's performance with the Reds.

"I'll try to assist him and advise him the best I can," Jocketty said. "I think Wayne has done an outstanding job for the last two years with the player personnel decisions and acquisitions they've made and the hiring of [manager] Dusty Baker."

Jocketty said other clubs approached him with offers, but they were as a special assistant to the GM. He preferred the position with Cincinnati because he'll report directly to Castellini. The Reds job will also allow Jocketty to work at Great American Ball Park while commuting from St. Louis, where his son, Joey, is a high school junior and daughter, Ashley, attends college.

Looking to stay in baseball as Spring Training approached, Jocketty liked the idea of having what he called "a full-time, part-time job," without the rigors of being a GM.

"I've done it for 13 years," he said. "I know the pressures and the daily commitments a general manager has to make. Quite honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to step back into that role again. This role I have now is one where I can be involved and do a lot of things that help the organization. Wayne is the general manager, and I'll do what I can to help him be successful and help the organization be successful. The ultimate goal is to get the Cincinnati Reds to the World Series."