Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, who learned Tuesday his season is over because of an upcoming surgery for a hernia, said he is not averse to changing positions next year if that is best for the team.

        “I've said it before: If there was a player who could help this team better at shortstop, then yes, I would definitely consider moving somewhere, and where that is really would depend on where they needed me to fit in,” Larkin said.

        Then he smiled at the thought of where that might be.

        “At this point, I think we're so solid everywhere that if I wasn't playing shortstop, I wouldn't be playing. I really like what we have out there — everywhere.”

        There is always the possibility of an offseason trade of present Reds shortstop Pokey Reese, but nobody was addressing that Tuesday.

        Reds general manager Jim Bowden said the issue of Larkin changing positions will come up when the Reds brain trust “sees it on the field ... and when it does, we'll address it with him at that time. Right now, we want to get him healthy.”

        The consensus is, Larkin was playing hurt earlier this year.

        “We want him 100 percent (by spring training), physically healthy at his age (38 in April) to perform at a level he needs to perform at,” Bowden said. “Barry Larkin can hit. He was hitting in the beginning of May when we were in first place. He was playing hurt, even in spring training.”

        There has been speculation about the possibility of the Reds buying out his contract for the next two years. Bowden said there was “no truth” to that.

        Said Larkin, “I'm under contract for two more years, so in my mind for two more years at least I'll be playing here. Beyond that, I'll just have to wait and see. If I continue to have these injuries ... then maybe my body is telling me it's time to stop playing.”

        But his goal is to get healthy, stay healthy and play up to his capabilities.

        “I plan on making some adjustments to my workout plan this winter, and the Reds are going to be involved in that,” he said. “I'm going to do what I have to do as far as getting surgically repaired and then after that try to get as strong as I can and try to avoid some of these injuries.”

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