DENVER — Reds general manager Jim Bowden and a highly placed New York Yankees source quashed speculation about a trade that would send Cincinnati second baseman Pokey Reese to the defending world champions.

        But Reese said Friday that one of his agents, Mike Nicotera, told him “the deal is still out there.” And Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees' director of player personnel who attended the Reds' previous series in San Francisco, was also in Denver to see Cincinnati open its three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

        Reese has confronted such rumors regularly — first as a highly regarded Reds prospect, then as the winner of the NL's previous two Gold Glove awards at his position. So he reacted calmly to the conflicting signs. “I'm just hanging,” he said.

        Bowden felt compelled to address rumors the Reds, pressured to trim payroll, would send Reese and his $3.2 million salary to the New York Yankees for rook ie infielder Alfonso Soriano, who'll earn $630,000 this year and next.

        Said Bowden in a statement: “There is no truth to trade rumors involving Pokey Reese. He is one of the best middle infielders in all of baseball, and he will be one of the cornerstones of our team when we move into Great American Ball Park in 2003. We want Pokey to finish his career with the Cincinnati Reds. As shortstop Dave Concepcion passed the torch to Barry Larkin, we eventually want Larkin to pass the torch to Pokey Reese.”

        Shortstop is Reese's original position.

        A Yankees source, speaking on condition he not be identified, said the defending world champions are not actively discussing any trades with the Reds. If true, that also would negate the rumored talks involving left-hander Dennys Reyes, whom New York has coveted.

        The source said the teams discussed Reese and Reyes earlier this year, but Yankees officials balked at giving the Reds the players they wanted.

Reds 12, Rockies 9 SULLIVAN: Right time for Prime Time Bowden: Reese won't be traded Larkin blames injury for errors Skrmetta earned promotion Reds box, runs

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