Wednesday, November 11, 1998

BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Now that the Reds have a new No. 1 starter in Denny Neagle, the trick may be keeping him beyond 1999.

Neagle's agent, Barry Meister, said Tuesday that the veteran pitcher likely will invoke his contractual right to demand a trade after next season unless his contract (two years to go) is reworked. Reds General Manager Jim Bowden said that may not be as bad as it sounds.

"I had a great talk with Barry Meister and also with Denny Neagle, and I'm very confident that it'll work out," Bowden said.

Neagle said he won't make a quick decision about his contract, but he made it clear he doesn't want to go through a three- or four-year rebuilding process. He said Bowden assured him the club is making an effort to win as soon as possible.

"I'm going to give the town and the organization a chance," Neagle said. "I'm an optimistic guy. I see the glass half full instead of half empty. I can't say now if I'll exercise that option. I'm just going to come to camp and do whatever I have to do to make the Cincinnati Reds a winner."

Neagle's contract includes salaries of $4.75 million for each of the next two years and a $5.25 million option for 2001 with a $500,000 buyout.

For Neagle, here's the catch: If he demands a trade and is traded, he relinquishes the right to free agency for a period of three years.

"Our goal is not to move him," Bowden said. "We want to keep him here five or six years, winning 15 to 20 games a year."

Neagle, a movie buff, was hard to reach Tuesday because he and his wife went to see The Waterboy, as well as run some errands. When he finally got word from his agent, the only surprise was that he had been traded to Cincinnati.

All other possibilities had been exhausted in the Atlanta papers, including a three-way deal that sent him to Milwaukee and on to Cleveland. And Bowden is already getting offers for him.

"We'll see," Neagle said. "For now I'm a Red."

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