Thursday, March 25, 1999
Reese: Why sign Baerga?
2B questions Reds' pickup of ex-Indian
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
![[baerga]](http://reds.enquirer.com/img/photos/1999/03/032599baerga_160x156.jpg)
Spring training coach Toby Harrah talks with overweight newcomer Carlos Baerga
(AP photo)
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SARASOTA, Fla. — Pokey Reese wore his usual smile, but his voice had an edge to it as he discussed Carlos Baerga's arrival Wednesday.
Reese plainly wasn't thrilled by the Reds' signing of Baerga, a second baseman who has slipped from his three-time All-Star form, to a non-guaranteed minor-league contract. But Reese, who has a staunch supporter in manager Jack McKeon, tried to maintain a professional attitude.
“They (Reds management) are going to do what they're going to do anyway,” said Reese, who is still projected as the starter at second base. “All I can do is play. It doesn't bother me. I don't let stuff like that affect me. I already have enough stuff to think about. You can't worry about what they do upstairs.”
Reese had a double and an RBI single in the Reds' 5-4 exhibition victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Reminded that he's McKeon's choice to play second, Reese said, “So what good does it do to bring (Baerga) in here, then?”
General Manager Jim Bowden likes stockpiling talent — to trade, if not to use. In fact, provisions in Baerga's contract will enable the Reds to jettison Baerga painlessly if he doesn't play himself into shape at Triple-A Indianapolis.
Bowden said that if Baerga has an opportunity to join another team's major-league roster by April 20, the Reds have 48 hours to trade him, release him or promote him to Cincinnati.
If that deadline passes and Baerga isn't in the majors or with another organization by May 15, he can ask to be released.
“That gives us six weeks to get him in shape,” Bowden said. “We should know by then (if Baerga can help).”
Baerga, 30, said he didn't receive the same opportunity from the St.Louis Cardinals, who released him from his $1.25 million contract March 17 and publicly criticized him for being overweight.
“They gave me just four (starts) to show them if I could play or not, and I don't think that's fair,” said Baerga, who hit .133 (2-of-15). “I'm not a rookie. I've been in the big leagues for a long time. I always start kind of slow and then I get going.”
Though Baerga looked a little thick around the middle and in his upper thighs, he indicated that he wasn't dangerously over his listed playing weight of 215 pounds.
“I've been like this my whole career. I'm not a skinny guy,” the former Cleveland Indian and New York Met said. “My body's like that. Sometimes I come to spring training a little bit heavy. I'd weigh from 220 to 225 and start the season at 217, 218.”
McKeon, who signed Baerga for the San Diego Padres' organization when the switch-hitter was 16, spent part of his morning hitting practice grounders to the nine-year veteran. Typically, McKeon refrains from such activity.
“From what I heard, I was looking for him to be much bigger than what he is,” McKeon said. “But I don't see too much difference from when he was having his good years at Cleveland. A little, but not much.”
Baerga, who said the Reds contacted him the day after St.Louis released him, has accepted the prospect of beginning the year with Indianapolis.
“I told the Reds, "Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it,'” he said. “I know I'm going to be back in the big leagues. Whatever it takes, I'm going to do.”
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