Sunday, February 21, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Club not ready to tie up its young players
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — It would make sense for the Reds to try and lock up some of their younger players to multiyear deals, but the Reds will stick to one-year contracts for their 17 unsigned players.
“That's by design at this point,” General Manager Jim Bowden said.
Bowden added the Reds might consider discussing multiyear contracts with a couple of players, “but not right now. Maybe during the season or after.”
A multiyear contract enables a team to fix some of its costs for upcoming seasons. It also often saves money, since younger players sometimes sacrifice getting their highest value for obtaining security.
Bowden declined to elaborate on the issue. The Reds probably can't follow this plan until Marge Schott steps aside as owner and a new individual or group assumes control.
Possibilities for multiyear deals include outfielder Dmitri Young and right-hander Brett Tomko. Young will become eligible for salary arbitration after this season and Tomko has a good chance, depending on where he ranks in major-league service time among other players with between two and three years in the bigs.
Players such as first baseman Sean Casey and third baseman Aaron Boone won't become eligible for arbitration until two more years, at the earliest, so the Reds won't be compelled to pay them more than they have to for quite some time.
HAPPY TO BE HERE: Despite being a non-roster invitee who's a longshot to make the Opening Day roster, Jayhawk Owens appreciates his surroundings.
“I was telling my wife (Jennifer), this is actually the first spring training I've gone to that I'll be able to have fun,” said Owens, a Glen Este High School graduate who lives in Anderson. “I'm not expected to make the team. I'd just like to open up some eyes for the future. I would be content with that.”
Owens, 30, reasoned he'll be close to home whether he's with the Reds or their Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate, with whom he ended the season last year.
Owens spent parts of the 1993-95 seasons with the Colorado Rockies and had positioned himself to become their No.1 catcher in '96 until he sprained his left thumb. He has played at the Triple-A level since 1997.
“Just to have the opportunity to put on a Reds uniform in spring training is really neat,” said Owens, who admitted he was more nervous for his first game at Cinergy Field than when he made his major-league debut.
CLEARED FOR ARRIVAL: Position players are due to report by midnight tonight, though some began trickling in Saturday, including Casey and outfielders Jon Nunnally and Michael Tucker.
They'll undergo physical examinations Monday before participating in the first full-squad workout Tuesday.
ETC.: Though Atlanta General Manager John Schuerholz told reporters after signing free agent Brian Hunter that he wouldn't bring in any other first basemen, Hal Morris' name came up in a conversation between Braves scout Bill Lajoie and Bowden. The Braves' interest in Morris, the Cincinnati veteran, could be reawakened later if they decide they need more first-base help to replace Andres Galarraga, who was found to have cancerous tumor in his lower back.
• Left-hander Dennys Reyes (back spasms) missed Saturday's workout but said he'll try to participate today. Right-hander Giovanni Carrara, whose arrival was delayed by visa problems, took part in his first workout.
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