Wednesday, March 24, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Fordyce awaiting trade to White Sox
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Reds General Manager Jim Bowden hoped to finalize a trade that would send backup catcher Brook Fordyce to the Chicago White Sox for a minor-league prospect, though no deal was complete by late Tuesday evening.
Bowden spent so much time using his cellular phone that its batteries ran out of power.
“I'll be keeping my fingers crossed,” said Fordyce, who's stuck behind Eddie Taubensee and Brian Johnson and has no minor-league options remaining.
White Sox General Manager Ron Schueler told The Chicago Tribune that he had spoken to four other teams and was close to obtaining a catcher. Schueler added that a couple of those clubs, which he would not name, were asking for too much in return.
Robert Machado, Mark Johnson and Josh Paul, the top three catchers in Chicago's camp, have not developed as quickly as the team had hoped, prompting the White Sox to seek veteran reinforcements. Chicago also approached the Tampa Bay Devil Rays about Mike DiFelice.
Speaking of the Devil Rays, they continue to scout the Reds heavily — and vice versa — feeding speculation that Cincinnati is looking at relievers Albie Lopez or Scott Aldred, a lefty. But the emergence of Scott Williamson and Dennys Reyes, who each threw a scoreless inning against the Twins, might cool the Reds' desire for bullpen help.
Bowden still cannot find any takers for outfielder Jon Nunnally, who has no minor-league options left and thus could be lost through waivers. As Nunnally socked a home run in the “B” game, Bowden said: “Scouts, take notice! More people should have interest in him. He's a good fourth or fifth outfielder.”
TRANSACTIONS: The Reds optioned right-hander Manuel Barrios to Indianapolis and reassigned outfielder Damon Hollins and right-hander Mark Thompson to minor-league camp, leaving 34 players on the spring roster.
Barrios made two spring appearances, posting a 1-0 record with a 4.50 ERA. Hollins hit .400 (6-of-15) but began camp far behind the Reds' contingent of established major-league outfielders. Thompson, the former University of Kentucky standout who's recovering from shoulder problems, was 0-1 with a 1.23 ERA in four Grapefruit League outings.
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