Brandon Larson was the Reds' first-round draft pick in 1997. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        BOSTON — The Reds weren't able to pull off any trades Wednesday at the winter meetings, but they took a step toward letting a player go.

        Brandon Larson, the Reds' No.1 draft pick in 1997, will be designated for assignment today to make room for Juan Encarnacion and Luis Pineda, the players obtained Tuesday from Detroit in the Dmitri Young trade.

        The move means the Reds have 10 days to trade, release or send Larson outright to the minor leagues. If they outright him, they have to expose him to waivers — meaning any team could pick him up.

        “It's a tough decision,” assistant general manager Doc Rodgers said. “It's a matter of priorities. We have 50 players we'd like to have on the roster.”

        On the trade front, the Reds met again with the Seattle Mariners to discuss a Pokey Reese trade.

        “We're getting closer,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. “We're working on a couple deals.”

        The Mariners apparently are waiting word from second baseman and former Red Bret Boone. Seattle upped its offer to Boone, who's a free agent. If he signs elsewhere, the Mariners would go for a Reese deal.

        One of the rumors making the rounds at the meetings was that the Reds were in the market for Boone.

        “Yeah, and we want (Moises) Alou, too,” said Reds manager Bob Boone, Bret's father. “But it's not going to happen.”

        “We always explore all possibilities,” Bowden said. “But it's unlikely that we'd be able to afford (Bret). He's in another stratosphere.”

        Boone turned down a $22million, three-year from Seattle.

        With so little trade activity, lots of names get bounced around. Tuesday, the Reds were rumored to be interested in Philadelphia third baseman Scott Rolen.

        “Not true,” Bowden said. “Big contract.”

        The Larson move — like every one the Reds make — was rooted in finances. The Reds really deal with a 38-man roster. Two years ago, they couldn't pay draft picks David Espinosa and Dane Sardinha big signing bonuses, so they gave them major-league contracts. That means they have to stay on the 40-man, even though both are years from playing in the big leagues. If they had signed traditional minor-league contracts, they wouldn't have to be put on the 40-man until their fifth season.

        Larson, a third baseman, was the 14th pick overall in the 1997 draft. Injuries limited him to a total of 29 games his first two seasons, but he put together solid years in 1999 (.294, 25 HRs, 94 RBI) and 2000 (.273, 22 HRs, 68 RBI).

        He struggled in two stints with the Reds last year — hitting only .121 in 33 at-bats. His numbers at Triple-A Louisville were not overwhelming either: .255, 14 HRs, 55 RBI in 115 games.

        It doesn't look as if he'll be the star the Reds projected him to be when they signed him for $1.2 million.

        But if the Reds lose him, they have no backup for third baseman Aaron Boone, who missed 137 games over the past two seasons.

        That could be why they're discussing more than pitching in trade talks, although pitching remains the top priority.

        The meetings end today, so there's a chance the Reds won't move Reese before then. San Diego considered pursuing Reese but traded for Ramon Vazquez instead. The Cubs needed a shortstop but got Alex Gonzalez from Toronto.

        Bowden said the end of the meetings is not a deadline.

        “You don't start paying players until April,” Bowden said. “That's when the pressure is on. We'll make a deal sometime before then.”

Reds get ready to cut loose 3B Larson Encarnacion could be in mix for leadoff spot Average salary passes $2 million Red Sox find a taker for Everett in Texas

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