Owens had ridden the Indianapolis-Cincinnati shuttle 18 times. But with his options exhausted, the Reds either had to bring him North or risk losing him on waivers.
''It came down to the fact that Pat Watkins and Damian Jackson had beaten him out,'' Reds General Manager Jim Bowden said. ''They were a better fit for our club.''
Owens' departure leaves the roster with 26 healthy players. The only question remaining is whether Melvin Nieves is ready to start the season. Nieves didn't arrive at spring training until March 3 because he was attending to one of his newborn twins, who had three heart surgeries. Nieves had surgery himself on a double hernia and wasn't ready to play anyway.
He has been trying to catch up quickly.
''We think he'll be ready,'' Bowden said. ''If he's not, we'll take one of the other guys we have in camp. We're not down to 25 yet.''
If Nieves can't go, Aaron Boone will probably make the Opening Day roster instead.
Nieves, who came over in an off-season trade with Detroit, stayed back and hit against Steve Cooke Saturday morning and then was the designated hitter in the game against the Texas Rangers in the afternoon. Nieves did have two hits against the Rangers.
''We're going to get him some at-bats and see what he can do,'' Reds manager Jack McKeon said.
Nieves hit 20 and 24 home runs the last two years, but he strikes out about eight times for every homer.
Owens had spent his entire career with the Reds. He was their fourth pick in the 1992 draft.
''It's a sad day for me personally,'' Bowden said. ''Because I remember his first day at Billings.''
Billings was rookie ball. Owens hit .301 there and was a success at Class A and AA as well. In 1995, he hit .314 at Indianapolis and led the league in runs, triples and stolen bases.
He got his first taste of the majors that year. In 1996, he was with the Reds for 88 games. But he hit only .200 with no home runs and nine RBI in 205 at-bats.
He was only with the Reds 27 games last year, hitting .263 with three RBI. He was Ray Knight's everyday left fielder for about two days that year.
''I think he's a solid extra player,'' Bowden said. ''He can play six positions. He swings the bat well from the right side, and he can steal you a base.''
Bowden thinks the change of venue will do Owens good.
''He's going to get an opportunity to play over there, more so than he would with us,'' Bowden said.
The player to be named later will most likely be a minor leaguer. ''If we can't agree on a player, there will be a cash settlement,'' he said.
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