Wednesday, July 29, 1998

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Unable to strike a deal with Reds General Manager Jim Bowden, the advisor for top draft pick Austin Kearns will meet with Managing Executive John Allen today to present his case.

Kearns' advisor, agent Alan Hendricks, and Bowden met Tuesday without much progress, so Hendricks said he suggested he and Allen speak directly. Bowden was receptive to the idea, he said.

It will be the second time in the last week Allen has played a role in a contract negotiation. Last Tuesday, Pete Harnisch's agent, Greg Clifton, asked Allen to call him when talks with Bowden couldn't produce an agreement. When Allen called back, the two sealed the pitcher's contract extension.

Allen said at the time he was not trying to step on Bowden's territory. Though not characterizing today's meeting as a do-or-die situation, Hendricks said he is approaching it as the best opportunity to get a deal.

"I rearranged my schedule to come see John," Hendricks said Tuesday. "This might be the last best chance to get something done. I'm going to be here all day, and I'd like to give John every chance to make the deal."

Hendricks declined to discuss specific numbers, but the Reds have offered Kearns, an outfielder from Lexinton (Ky.) Lafayette High, $1.5 million, while Kearns, the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, is seeking $2.1 million.

"We've spent enough time talking about this," Hendricks said. "All we're talking about is Austin Kearns being treated fairly in terms of the market."

Hendricks goes into the meeting armed with these numbers: San Diego offered its draftee, the No. 9 choice overall, $1.9 million, and Milwaukee, at 13th, signed its for $1.7 million. He says the Reds are using the 1997 draft as the base for their offer.

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