Saturday, July 24, 1999
Rogers trade to Mets put squeeze on pitchers market
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SAN FRANCISCO — The Reds gave up on acquiring Kenny Rogers long ago, so the New York Mets' acquisition of the Oakland A's ace left-hander didn't stun them. But the Rogers deal should intensify the competition among contending clubs, including the Reds, for the handful of starting pitchers available in trade.
Since he's not allowed to add players whose salary would increase the Reds' payroll, General Manager Jim Bowden faces a challenge in obtaining a hurler to bolster the starting rotation before the July 31 trading deadline. That eliminated Rogers, who's making $5 million in the final year of a four-year deal.
With Rogers having switched teams, Bowden's task grew even more difficult.
“It takes a guy out of the picture, that's No. 1,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said. “If you're (aiming) for two or three pitchers and one's gone, then you set your sights on something else. You may push harder to make another deal.”
As McKeon spoke before Friday night's game, Giants General Manager Brian Sabean stood behind the batting cage at 3Com Park, speaking on a cellular phone. The Giants, who began the evening clinging to a half-game lead in the NL West, are thought to be seeking pitching help as seriously as Cincinnati.
McKeon, who engineered numerous trades as the San Diego Padres' general manager from 1981-90, recommended acting quickly to obtain a player — which may be too late, given the trading deadline's proximity.
“If you really want somebody, go after them early,” McKeon said. “Don't wait until the last minute, because the bargaining chips get higher. The closer you get to the deadline, the club that has a player has more leverage.”
The Reds are among at least five clubs interested in Tampa Bay's Rolando Arrojo, whose $240,000 salary enhances his value. Though their salaries would conceivably eliminate them from Cincinnati's consideration, Anaheim's Chuck Finley ($5.8 million) and Kansas City's Kevin Appier ($4.8 million) are still linked to the Reds in speculation. Anaheim's Omar Olivares ($1.6 million) isn't as expensive, but it's questionable whether the Angels are willing to trade him.
Two sources insisted that the Reds have offered Kansas City the most attractive package of players for Appier. The Royals, who were once interested in reacquiring outfielder Michael Tucker, need shortstop and catching prospects. The Reds have an excellent shortstop prospect at Double-A Chattanooga, Travis Dawkins, but they'd be extremely reluctant to part with him.
But any pitching-hungry club probably will be required to engage in careful, excruciating thought about such prospects.
“When you're in the driver's seat, you have that kind of leverage. Just like we had with (John) Smiley,” McKeon said, referring to the 1997 deadline-
date deal that brought pitching prospects Danny Graves, Scott Winchester and Jim Crowell and infielder Damian Jackson from Cleveland. “We've been in the opposite direction in the last few years; we've been trading (established) guys. Now it's a case of acquiring.”
Don't expect the Reds to pursue Jim Abbott, released by the Milwaukee Brewers after compiling a 2-8 record with a 6.91 ERA.
“Based on what I've seen, his pitching repertoire and the way he pitches, I don't see him getting back to the way he once was,” Reds pitching coach Don Gullett said. “As thin as pitching is, I just kind of have a tough time believing he couldn't help them (if he was effective). He had ample opportunity.”
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