In a perfect world — or at least an economically equal baseball world — the Reds would be able to keep both Sean Casey and Dmitri Young, buy some pitching and wait for Austin Kearns to develop.

        But the reality is the Reds have a $40-something million payroll. Casey and Young are making $3 and $3.5 million, respectively, and are due huge raises through arbitration.

        So one of the two could be out of here to facilitate a trade for a pitcher.

        Which one?

        Both are team players, sheer delights and popular with the fans.

        The argument for keeping Casey: He's hit for a higher average and driven in more runs than Young as a Red. He makes less money than Young because he's younger.

        The argument for keeping Young: He's a switch-hitter. He's more versatile and has better speed than Casey. His home run numbers have steadily increased — from 14 to 18 to 21 — the last three years, while Casey's have dropped — 25 to 20 to 13.

        The argument for keeping them are the same as the arguments for trading them. The key to who stays or goes might be which one has the most trade value.

        Rest assured Reds general manager Jim Bowden will trade either for pitching. That's probably a sound strategy because it's clear the Reds aren't going to win with the pitching they have on the roster now.

        So who would you trade? Casey? Young? Neither? Let us know. E-mail suggestions, questions or comments to jfay@enquirer.com. Each Sunday, I will respond to e-mail.

        RED FOR LIFE: Even if the Reds had given St. Louis and Pittsburgh permission to talk to assistant scouting director Johnny Almaraz, those teams would not have gotten him.

        “I want to work for one club my entire career,” Almaraz said. “That may sound stupid, but that's what my mentor Tony Robello taught me.”

        Almaraz was key to helping open up Latin America again for the Reds. He also signed Adam Dunn.

        “I appreciate what Jim Bowden's done for me,” Almaraz said. “They've been loyal and they give me the freedom to go and look for players.”

        SS OF FUTURE? The question of who would replace Barry Larkin at shortstop used to be easy to answer. But, with Pokey Reese unhappy with the Reds and on the trading block, it's open to speculation again.

        Gookie Dawkins was right behind Reese on the depth chart. But Dawkins is coming off his second year at Double-A and he hit only .226 there.

        “He came on at the end after he got over all his injuries,” Bowden said.

        A player to watch is Ranier Olmedo, a 20-year-old from Venezuela. Olmedo hit .244 at Single-A Mudville last season, his first as a switch-hitter. He also led Reds minor leaguers with 38 stolen bases.

        Olmedo did make 40 errors, but the Reds brass compare his defensive skills to Omar Vizquel, Cleveland's Gold Glover. Olmedo is so talented he tries to make every play, thus the errors.

        Olmedo is playing in the instructional league.

        “He's made some changes with his footwork,” director of player development Tim Naehring said. “It's really helped.”

        The question with Dawkins and Olmedo is the same as the one with Reese: Will they hit enough?

        That is not a question with David Espinosa, the Reds' No.1 pick in 2000. Scouts believe Espinosa will hit, but he made 48 errors in 122 games at Dayton this year.

        IL MVP: Naehring says the leading candidate for MVP of the instructional league is Steve Smitherman, a 23-year-old outfielder, who hit .280 with 20 home runs and 73 RBI at Single-A Dayton.

        He was a 20th-round pick in 2000.

        “He's really turned himself into a prospect,” Naehring said.

        BONUS: Todd Walker collected $300,000 in bonus money for clauses in his contract for games played. Walker, who made $1.05 million in base salary, played 151 games.

        ON THE LIST: Former Boston Red Sox manager Jimy Williams is one of the people Reds manager Bob Boone may pursue for one of his coaching openings.

        Contact John Fay by phone: 768-8445; fax: 768-8550; e-mail: jfay@enquirer.com.

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