Tuesday, December 14, 1999REDS NOTEBOOK
Deion loses roster spot to pitcher
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati EnquirerANAHEIM, Calif. — With all due respect to Elmer Dessens, few Reds fans will care that the team signed him to a one-year contract Monday.
However, most fans will pay attention to the accompanying transaction that allowed the Reds to put Dessens on the 40-man roster: Deion Sanders was removed from the roster and designated for assignment.
The move didn't end the apparent flirtation with Sanders, the Dallas Cowboys cornerback who has expressed interest in rejoining the Reds.
General Manager Jim Bowden said that the Reds won't tender Sanders a major-league contract Monday, a procedural maneuver that would make Sanders a free agent but allow him to sign a minor-league contract with the Reds.
“We wanted to have that flexibility,” Bowden said.
Bowden said he has not discussed a contract with either Sanders or his agent, Eugene Parker.
Asked about the prospect of sign ing Sanders, Bowden answered the question indirectly, saying the organization is “very pleased” with outfielders Dante Bichette, Mike Cameron, Michael Tucker and Dmitri Young and that heavy competition exists for the final reserve spot.
The Reds outbid Pittsburgh for Dessens, a former Pirates right-hander who's currently pitching for Hermosillo in the Mexican Winter League.
Dessens, who pitched for the Yomiuri Giants in the Japanese Central League this year, was 2-8 with a 6.12 ERA for Pittsburgh from 1996-98.
YO, ADRIAN: Reds officials are excited about left-hander Adrian Burnside, the 22-year-old they selected from the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization in the annual Rule 5 draft.
“The night I saw him, he could pitch in the big leagues,” said Reds Special Assistant Larry Barton Jr.
“There aren't a lot of left-handers in the big leagues throwing 95 miles an hour,” Scouting Director DeJon Watson said.
The Reds paid Los Angeles $50,000 for Burnside, who must spend the 2000 season on the major-league roster or be offered back to the Dodgers for $25,000.
Often, teams forge agreements that allow Rule 5 draftees to be sent to the minors with their new clubs.
Burnside's career 19-29 record was offset by his 327 strikeouts in 350 innings from 1996-99. He was 1-3 with a 6.10 ERA with San Bernardino in the California Fall League this year but finished second in the league with 43 strikeouts in 31 innings.
Previously a starter who was 10-9 with a 4.17 ERA in Single-A this year, the Reds will try Burnside as a reliever.
Burnside would be the third Australian-born player to appear for the Reds, joining infielder “Uncle” Joe Quinn (1900) and right-hander Mark Hutton (1998).
The Reds also selected catcher Bobby Cripps in the draft's Triple-A phase from the Toronto organization. They lost minor-league outfielder Dewayne Wise to Toronto in the major-league phase.
A LARKIN TRADED: The Reds are expected to announce today that first baseman-outfielder Stephen Larkin has been traded to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named.
Bowden said he discussed the matter with shortstop Barry Larkin, Stephen's older brother, and the Larkin family.
“We were not going to make the deal unless the Larkin family supported it,” Bowden said. “We feel it's a better opportunity for Stephen there. Due to the high number of outfield prospects we have, he was blocked here.”
Larkin hit .299 with four homers and 42 RBI this year for Double-A Chattanooga.
ETC.: Trade talks fizzled between the Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks regarding first baseman-outfielder Travis Lee. Seeking a reliever from the Reds, the Diamondbacks contented themselves by obtaining Brad Clontz from Pittsburgh for a player to be named.
• The Reds were close to signing infielder David Howard to a minor-league contract, possibly ending their search for a reserve middle infielder specializing in defense.
Howard, a .229 career hitter in nine seasons with Kansas City and St. Louis, batted .207 in 52 games for the Cardinals this year.
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