BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NASHVILLE — Trades by other clubs Monday left General Manager Jim Bowden and the Reds entourage with little choice but to switch their shopping objectives from ballplayers to Christmas gifts.
The chances of a trade that would have sent right fielder Reggie Sanders to Seattle vanished when the Mariners acquired outfielder Butch Huskey from the New York Mets.
And late Monday night, St. Louis announced a trade for Florida shortstop Edgar Renteria, one of the heroes of the Marlins' 1997 World Series champions. That deal effectively scuttled any interest on the Cardinals' part in Barry Larkin, and St. Louis had been one of only a couple teams to show any interest in the veteran shortstop.
Bowden planned to stay at the Opryland Hotel, site of baseball's Winter Meetings, until today, but admitted that he “might as well” have departed Monday night.
Though Bowden wanted to make another deal, he was able to obtain additional pitching and infield depth by signing free agents Steve Avery and Mark Lewis, respectively.
Like Sanders, Huskey has endured an injury-plagued career. But at 27, he's four years younger than Sanders. And though Huskey is eligible for salary arbitration, his 1998 salary of $300,000 won't shoot past the $3.7 million Sanders is due to earn next year.
Their '98 statistics were similar. Huskey hit .252 in 113 games with 18 doubles, 13 homers and 59 RBI, while Sanders batted .268 in 135 games with 18 doubles, 14 homers and 59 RBI.
Seattle gave up one of the prospects the Reds were said to be coveting: Lesli Brea, a minor-league reliever who had 12 saves and 86 strikeouts in 58ö innings at Single-A Wisconsin last year.
The Cardinals, looking to bolster the shortstop position after trading Royce Clayton to Texas last season, had been one of two teams interested in Larkin. But St. Louis refused to part with either outfielder J.D. Drew or left-hander Rick Ankiel.
The Cardinals instead suggested 24-year-old right-hander Manny Aybar, 10-0 with a 2.60 ERA at Triple-A Memphis and 6-6 with a 5.98 ERA for St. Louis. Instead, the Cardinals got Renteria from Florida for three minor leaguers, leaving the Marlins with just four players from their 25-man roster that won the '97 Series.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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