Everything comes down to money. Even the Reds' Greg Vaughn trade.

        It was a deal that the Reds seemingly could not make, since it fattens their payroll by an unwanted $2 million. Vaughn will earn $5.75 million this year in the final season of a three-year, $15 million contract, while Sanders will earn $3.7 million with an option for the year 2000 for another $3.7 million if he plays in 145 games or makes 550 plate appearances.

        General Manager Jim Bowden said he failed to convince the San Diego Padres to assume the burden for $1 million of Vaughn's salary. Like virtually every other team, the Padres also are trying to limit their payroll.

        But the usually frugal Reds couldn't squander a chance to acquire a 50-homer hitter. Managing Executive John Allen realized it.

        “Basically we've gone from being in the 20s to being in the 30s,” said Allen, referring to millions of dollars in payroll. “But ... it's a great baseball trade. We think, obviously, we just had to evaluate all the factors.”

        Bowden admitted that the Reds would have to sell “a lot” of tickets to ease the burden of paying Vaughn's salary. That's why there was an undercurrent of seriousness to his comedy when, in announcing the trade, he showed the Reds' phone numbers for ticket sales on small placards for all the cameras.

        At the same time, Vaughn is a bargain. Other premier power hitters — Baltimore's Albert Belle, Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr., San Francisco's Barry Bonds, etc. — earn $10 million or more annually.

        “I think (a power hitter) is one of the most difficult things to get unless you have money,” Bowden said.

More power to you
        The Reds' top home-run hitter last season was Bret Boone with 24, and Boone was traded for Denny Neagle. The Reds' top three returning home-run hitter is Barry Larkin, who had 17 — or what Vaughn had by the end of May.

        “It was going to be tough for us to compete — even with good pitching — without that (power) bat, and we knew it all along,” Bowden said.

Sweeney can swing
        Outfielder Mark Sweeney, the other player the Reds obtained from San Diego, is no slouch.

        Check his statistics: a .260 career major league average in five seasons with St. Louis and the Padres. But he's also an accomplished pinch-hitter, having led the majors with 22 hits off the bench in 1997. He has a career .293 average (51-for-174) as a pinch hitter.

        Neither of the players the Reds sent to San Diego with Sanders was expected to make an impact.

        Damian Jackson was stuck behind Pokey Reese at second base and Barry Larkin at shortstop. Right-hander Josh Harris was 10-12 with a 3.05 ERA for Single-A Burlington last year, but was not cited among the Reds' top 10 prospects by Baseball America.

No "fire sale'
        Kevin Brown left town for a staggering $105 million. Steve Finley and Ken Caminiti got more money elsewhere. Joey Hamilton found the satisfaction of a multiyear deal in the other league. Now Vaughn is gone.

        Four months ago the Padres were in the midst of a stirring playoff run that got them to the World Series. Now, three position players and two starting pitchers from the NL championship team are gone.

        President Larry Lucchino said the Padres will go into next season with a payroll of roughly $45 million, or the same as last year.

        “A fire sale goes down to $10 million or $12 million,” Lucchino said. “We're not even reducing it.”

        — Chris Haft and The Associated Press

Vaughn makes Reds contenders Vaughn pleads: Let me keep my goatee Vaughn era could be short or sweet Rebuilt Reds can challenge in NL Central Larkin happy to stay now Questions remain in outfield Sanders glad to get change of scenery Payroll pushed past $30 million

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