Wednesday, June 17, 1998

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

In a move that could foreshadow a major trade, the Reds made a minor one Tuesday.

Cincinnati sent minor leaguers Eddie Priest, a 24-year left-handed pitcher, and Christian Rojas, a 22-year old outfielder, to Cleveland for 28-year old left-handed pitcher Rick Krivda. In doing so, the Reds, whose stated goal is to get younger and cheaper, got older and sent prospects to the Indians. Usually it's the other way around. But acquiring Krivda, who has pitched in the majors in parts of the past four seasons, could give the Reds trade bait to package in a deal if a contending team needs a left-handed reliever or starter. Left-handers are always in demand, especially if a team like National League Western Division leader San Diego -- in need of a lefty and mentioned as a major player in negotiations for Barry Larkin -- wants one for the stretch run.

The Padres blamed a loss to Texas a week-and-a-half ago on not having a left-handed reliever. To fill the void, last week they called up Triple-A farmhand Roberto Ramirez, 25, a four-time Mexi CP:Eddie Priest

can League All-Star they bought for $400,000 from the Mexico City Red Devils this season.

If a deal isn't made, Krivda could fill a role with the Reds if they traded a starter.

A source indicated Tuesday that the Texas Rangers are interested in trading for Reds pitcher Pete Harnisch (6-2), who had another strong outing while taking the loss Tuesday night against Arizona. The Rangers on Tuesday designated starting pitcher Bobby Witt for assignment, giving the team 10 days to trade Witt, release him or send him to the minors. They called up minor-leaguer Matt Perisho to fill a hole in their rotation, but are looking for a solid starter to boost their already strong chances at winning the American League West.

Texas General Manager Doug Melvin said no deal to get another starter was close. Reds General Manager Jim Bowden wouldn't comment on specific teams but said he would be surprised if Texas didn't have interest in Harnisch.

"The way he's pitching, I'd be surprised if there aren't 30 teams with interest," Bowden said.

Harnisch, 6-2 with a 2.78 ERA after a seven-inning, two-run effort in a 5-1 loss to Arizona Tuesday, is one of the hottest pitchers on the block because he is pitching well and has a one-year, $300,000 contract.

Bowden wants prospects in return for any veterans he deals. If the Rangers could get a quality pitcher, they would consider dealing catcher Cesar King, a good prospect who is playing at Double-A Tulsa.

Despite the speculation, Bowden said Tuesday's trade was intended to make the Reds a better team now.

"We didn't feel Priest and Rojas fit into our future major league plans, and Krivda will give us another left-hander," Bowden said. "For what we had to give up, it made sense . . . We were able to acquire a left-hander that can help this club this year."

Krivda, who was 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in 11 games (10 relief appearances) with Cleveland this year, will join the Reds today. He was 66-30 with a 3.14 ERA in the minors and is 11-14 with a 4.93 ERA in the majors, mostly as a starter with Baltimore. This has so far been his best season in the majors.

Krivda was claimed on waivers by the Indians in March and pitched mostly in mop-up roles this year. His last appearance, by chance, came against the Reds a week-and-a-half ago, when he pitched the final inning (one hit, one walk, no runs) in Cleveland's 10-1 win. Reds manager Jack McKeon scouted Krivda when he pitched in the minors and likes him as either a fifth starter or in long relief. "He's a control-type guy, not overpowering, who knows how to pitch," McKeon said.

Still, it was surprising Cincinnati gave up Priest, who just three weeks ago was being touted by the Reds as one of the building blocks of a future starting rotation. There was talk of how Priest might fit into a young guns rotation of himself, Brett Tomko, Scott Winchester and Danny Graves, all either 24 or 25 years old.

But after one mediocre start and one bad one, both against the Giants -- a major league tryout totaling 5 2/3 innings -- Priest was sent back to Triple-A, where he'd had only four starts before being called up. " We don't evaluate a guy based on six innings in the majors," Bowden said. "We worked him out right here (at Cinergy Field) before we drafted him and evaluated him from that day. We came to the conclusion he was not in our major league plans."

Rojas was hitting .284 with eight homers and 20 RBI at Class A Burlington, his third straight season at Class A.