Monday, July 24, 2000
Reds face more tough decisions
Team's payroll can't keep growing
By Chris Haft
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Barry Larkin's not going anywhere. Neither are several issues, including some related to Larkin's status, which the Reds must address in the near future.
The three-year contract extension Larkin received Sunday night will please his teammates. “He's a smooth leader,” said left-hander Ron Villone.
But the meaning of keeping Larkin extends beyond its feel-good aspects. Retaining him will force the Reds to consider some serious questions regarding payroll and personnel.
The Reds continue to insist, legitimately so, that they're a small-market club.
John Allen, the team's chief operating officer, will begin today to look at ways of balancing the books. An increase in ticket prices, possibly as soon as this season, is certain. A cut in player payroll at some point is equally certain.
“We have a payroll that is 50 percent of the New York Yankees',” Allen said Sunday night. “Our revenues are nowhere near 50 percent of the Yankees'.”
The Reds somehow must pay center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. and Larkin more than $12 million combined per year, while absorbing the rising salaries of other young players such as Aaron Boone, Sean Casey, Danny Graves, Pokey Reese and Dmitri Young. Each of these five is either already eligible for salary arbitration or, with the possible exception of Boone, will become eligible after this season.
Reds management thus faces some choices:
• If the club continues to operate with a payroll in the $45 million range, one or two of the Reds' young players might be traded.
• Or Cincinnati will have to execute another Denny Neagle-style trade, jettisoning a useful yet expensive veteran. It could be right fielder Dante Bichette, who'll earn more than $6 million next year, or right-hander Pete Harnisch, who would make $3.75 million — a bargain — if the team decides to pick up his option.
Pitching is at a premium, and with so many teams within shot of a division lead or the wild card, Harnisch is coveted. He has pitched extremely well since returning from the disabled list.
The signing of Larkin shows that Gookie Dawkins really isn't the shortstop of the future, as he was billed. Dawkins already has begun playing second base at Double-A Chattanooga, the better to prepare him for teaming with Pokey Reese — the Reds' real successor to Larkin, as general manager Jim Bowden emphasized Saturday.
It's heresy in these parts to suggest that Larkin's skills might be declining. There hasn't been much evidence of that lately, given his .321 batting average and solid defensive play. But age spares nobody from its cruelty — not even finely conditioned athletes such as Larkin, who's 36 chronologically but looks 26 physically.
There's no reason Larkin can't remain the National League's best shortstop for another year or two. But within the duration of his new contract, some skeptic will broach the subject of a position switch. Left field? Third base? No matter what the suggestion is, it won't be an easy issue to solve.
Should the Reds sign high school shortstop David Espinosa, their No.1 draft choice, they face a potential glut at the position. However, a surplus of talent is a problem the Reds would welcome.
Another positive aspect to consider is Larkin's effect on Griffey, his Moeller High School co-legend. Griffey occasionally — and wisely — will defer comment on a particular subject by saying, “I'm still new here. I don't know everybody yet.” Keeping Larkin could help Griffey's transition continue on an even path.
Griffey attended the news conference Sunday night announcing Larkin's signing. “I'm really excited,” he said.
This wasn't just another player transaction.
John Fay contributed to this report.
Reds Stories
• Return to Reds front page...
Reds face more tough decisions