Tuesday, January 12, 1999
Morris could be back as bench player
BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hal Morris back in Cincinnati? It could happen.
General Manager Jim Bowden said Monday he is attempting to sign the former Reds first baseman as a backup. Bowden also continues to pursue veteran infielders Carlos Baerga, Tim Naehring and former Red Willie Greene.
Bowden said all have received “lowball” offers from the Reds to come in as role players.
The most interesting name is Morris, who hit .307 with the Reds from 1990-97 and .309 with one homer and 40 RBI last year in Kansas City. Bowden stressed that Morris would only be brought in as a backup to Sean Casey and Dmitri Young at first base, and the GM said he has been clear in his discussions with Morris' agents the 33-year-old would not see regular playing time.
“He'll have to determine whether this is the best place for him,” Bowden said. “He would give us a left-handed hitter off the bench, and he'd be a good influence on our young players. He'd fit in very well here in Cincinnati as long as he understood his role. Players can make a good living coming off the bench once they accept that role.”
Agent Tom Reich told The Enquirer last December that Morris was interested in returning to the Reds.
Bowden he hasn't made progress with Baerga, the former Cleveland Indians and New York Mets second baseman, or Greene, who was released by Baltimore this winter.
Naehring, the Cincinnati native who has missed 11/2 years with injuries, is also on Bowden's budget wish list.
“It's not a matter of being far apart, it's a matter of what the market's going to pay,” Bowden said. “It all depends on how the market plays out and will they take less to come to Cincinnati? Everyone knows our budget is such that we can't compete for players.”
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