Monday, July 22, 2002
Reds cross fingers on Rogers
Texas pitcher will announce trade decision today
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Reds general manager Jim Bowden said he has his fingers crossed and his lobbyists at work, but it's Kenny Rogers' decision.
The Reds agreed to a trade Saturday that would bring the Texas Rangers' veteran left-hander to Cincinnati for three minor-league prospects — second baseman David Espinosa, outfielder Alan Moye and right-hander Josh Hall.
The catch is Rogers has a no-trade clause, and he must waive it for the trade to be completed. Rogers is supposed to let the Reds know today.
“The general manager, manager and players all have calls into him,” Bowden said Sunday. “We're hopeful that he wants to become a Cincinnati Red and pitch in the playoffs.
“But we respect his right to make the decision.”
Rogers, 37, is 10-5 with a 3.39 ERA this season and 142-103 with a 4.18 ERA in his career. He is probably the best pitcher available on the trade market. He's particularly appealing to the Reds because he's left-handed and the team Cincinnati is chasing in the National League Central, St.Louis, doesn't hit lefties very well.
“I think he's the best guy available,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “He's having a good year. He knows how to pitch. He fits in with our scheme.”
Rogers is certainly the best left-hander out there that the Reds can afford. Because Rogers is in the final year of his contract, the Rangers are willing to pay the remainder of his $7.5 million salary in exchange for prospects.
That's the second hitch. If Rogers waives his no-trade clause, the trade must go to commissioner Bud Selig for approval.
“The commissioner would have to approve it because of the amount of money involved,” Bowden said.
The Rangers are willing to eat Rogers' salary because he's a free agent at the end of the year. He could re-sign with the Rangers after playing out the season with the Reds.
Boone was among those trying to lobby Rogers.
“I've got a voice mail into him,” Boone said. “You want his cell number? Anyone who wants to call him and tell him how nice Cincinnati is should go ahead.”
Rogers likes Texas, but he is open to the Reds' efforts.
“I'm not closing any doors,” Rogers told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. “I'll listen to anything they have to say. I don't know. My leanings are with my family and what they have to say. My family is first. What my teammates think means something to me.”
One teammate doesn't think Rogers should come to Cincinnati.
“I don't think it makes much sense for him to accept this trade,” Rangers first baseman Rafael Palmeiro told the Dallas Morning News. “First of all, the labor situation is uncertain. Second, I'm not sure Cincinnati has what it takes to win the whole thing. With all of that going on, and him not wanting to leave, it's hard to make any decision. If it was Arizona or Atlanta or San Francisco, that's a team that has a more legitimate shot to win it all.”
The best known of the prospects in the deal is Espinosa, the No.1 pick in the 2000 draft. Getting rid of him would ease the Reds' 40-man roster jam. Espinosa's major-league contract pays him $350,000 this year, $500,000 in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Espinosa would have to be on the big-league 25-man roster by 2005 and he might not be ready. He's hitting .245 with seven homers and 44 RBI at Single-A Stockton. He's struck 104 times in 363 at-bats. He's also made 26 errors in 94 games at second base, where he was moved from shortstop this season.
Hall, 21, was the seventh-round pick in the 1998 draft. He was 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA at Stockton before being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga, where he is 5-4 with a 4.10 ERA.
Moye, 19, was the third-round pick last year. He's hitting .271 with four home runs and 19 RBI at Rookie Ball Billings.
Rogers has spent most of his career with the Rangers. He pitched his first seven years in the big leagues with them, then went to the New York Yankees for two seasons. He's also spent time with Oakland and the New York Mets.
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Reds cross fingers on Rogers
