Wednesday, December 08, 1999
Pitching tops Bowden's wish list
Reds seek starters; White, Tomko may be trade bait
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Reds' eternal search for pitching will dominate their activity at the winter meetings.
Most of the staff that posted a respectable 3.98 ERA, fourth-best in the National League, is expected to return next season. Still, the Reds could use reinforcements, particularly for the starting rotation.
Pete Harnisch and Denny Neagle endured shoulder trouble this year. Steve Parris and Ron Villone, despite their encouraging efforts, have yet to pitch a full major-league season as starters. Brett Tomko's erratic performances frustrated manager Jack McKeon and pitching coach Don Gullett. Juan Guzman is likely to depart through free agency.
“Most of our focus has been on pitching,” Bowden said. “It's the No. 1 thing we're looking at, although it has been the most difficult entity to get.”
Though rumors have linked Cincinnati to free agents such as Steve Trachsel and Andy Benes, Bowden said the franchise cannot afford the $6 million-a-year price tag such pitchers have demanded. “From a financial perspective, we're restricted in what we can or can't do,” he said.
Thus, trading becomes a major option.
Tampa Bay right-hander Rolando Arrojo, whom the Reds pursued before the July 31 trading deadline, remains available. Arrojo finished only 7-12 with a 5.18 ERA this year after posting a 14-12 mark with a 3.56 ERA as a rookie in 1998. With only two years of major-league service time, Arrojo is not yet eligible for salary arbitration, which limits his pay and enhances his value. The Colorado Rockies, who can offer slugging third baseman Vinny Castilla in a trade, are considered leading suitors for Arrojo.
The Reds are believed to have approached the Chicago White Sox about right-hander James Baldwin during last month's general managers' meetings. Baldwin had a 12-13 record with a 5.10 ERA but was 8-2 after Aug.1. He displayed the same tendency in 1998, winning 10 of 13 second-half decisions to finish 13-6. Though his 1999 salary of $1.9 million will rise past $3 million in salary arbitration, that's a bargain by current standards.
Aware that asking the Reds about first baseman Sean Casey or second baseman Pokey Reese is ludicrous, teams have inquired about third baseman Aaron Boone. But Bowden wants to avoid dismantling his nucleus of young players: “Our whole goal is to keep our 96-win team together.”
The Reds may have to exchange pitching to receive pitching.
For example, reliever Gabe White did not appear in the Reds' final 16 games. But as a 28-year-old left-hand er who also can start, he is coveted by numerous teams.
Tomko, who failed to harness his overpowering assortment of pitches while finishing 5-7 with a 4.92 ERA, is another popular commodity. Though the Reds would prefer to see him blossom with them, the chance to secure a more consistent pitcher by trading him might tempt them.
Having replaced cleanup hitter Greg Vaughn with Dante Bichette in an Oct. 30 trade, Cincinnati is content with its group of position players.
The only item Bowden cited on his wish list in this area was a defensive specialist to back up at second base and shortstop. “Although we think we have qualified people, we like to have competition,” Bowden said.
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