Sheffield a Red? Doubtful

SARASOTA, Fla. — Any possibility that the Reds might acquire Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Gary Sheffield should immediately be buried, though it's believed such a deal was discussed.

Barry Larkin signs autographs after a Reds rally in downtown Sarasota Friday.
(Jeff Swinger photo)
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The notion of Sheffield becoming a Red was a longshot from the start. Not only will he earn $9.5 million this year, but he also wants a contract extension and would prefer a trade to the New York Yankees, New York Mets or Atlanta Braves.

However, Reds insiders confirmed that the Sheffield idea was floated, then quickly discarded due to payroll constraints. The Reds projected payroll of $44 million is considered inflexible.

The package of players Cincinnati might have offered for Sheffield is open for discussion, though the subject is moot. Except for center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., who won't be traded, no Red can match Sheffield's all-around production from the 2000 season (.325, 43 homers, 109 RBI).

Baseball sources familiar with the talks said that the Dodgers were seeking more offense than Reds such as outfielder Dmitri Young or first baseman Sean Casey could provide. Los Angeles had sought the likes of David Justice from the Yankees, Mike Piazza from the Mets and Javy Lopez from the Braves.

EXTREME CONFIDENCE: Manager Bob Boone predicted that the Reds will have a strong offense, regardless of how the batting order unfolds.

“If we stay healthy, the top six will hit .300 (cumulatively). I'm positive of that,” he said.

Boone didn't stop there.

“I'm not sure that seven and eight (probably Pokey Reese and Jason LaRue) aren't going to be right up there with them,” he added. “This team conceivably could have a starting eight hitting .300. I think there's that kind of talent there.”

PRAISING ARIZONA: Catcher Kelly Stinnett wasn't surprised by the generosity of the 10 Arizona Diamondbacks who agreed to defer significant percentages of their salaries to ease the team's financial crunch.

“Those guys are awesome,” said Stinnett, who played for Arizona from 1998-2000. “It was a great experience with them. I learned a lot over there and I hope it carries over here.”

Stinnett, who signed a one-year, $500,000 free-agent deal with the Reds on Jan. 9, believed that the Diamondbacks' inability to pay market-value salaries to two catchers led to his departure. Damian Miller, Arizona's other catcher, won a $920,000 raise to $1.25 million in salary arbitration.

“The money's not there right now, obviously,” Stinnett said. “I'm pretty sure it was one of the reasons I wasn't able to come back.”

ETC.: Right-hander Larry Luebbers, who began throwing on flat ground Wednesday after overcoming a sore right wrist, said he should be able to start pitching from a mound in about a week. “Everything has gone according to plan,” said Luebbers.

• Some fans may think they know the Reds, but they really don't. One autograph-hunter loitering by the parking-lot gates saw pitcher Ed Yarnall leaving his car and asked him for his autograph, believing he was Scott Williamson. Yarnall stands 6-foot-4; Williamson is generously listed at 6 feet even.

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