MILWAUKEE — About this time last season, Reds manager Bob Boone said Elmer Dessens would be in the rotation for next season.

        Beyond that, he couldn't say who would be. It was Elmer and the Four Question Marks.

        And how about now, as Boone looks to 2003?

2003 STAFF?

Here's a look at how the 2003 rotation shapes up (signing a high-, mid-priced free agent or two would shake this up):     In     • Elmer Dessens: Good numbers, tough luck.     Probably in     • Ryan Dempster: Too young to give up on.     • Danny Graves: He's willing, and his stuff is suited better to starting.     In, if they sign     • Jimmy Haynes: Best money spent in the past offseason.     • Shawn Estes: Left-hander, a huge plus. Good track record.     • Brian Moehler: He was effective — with a less-than-100-percent shoulder.     Also in the running     • Chris Reitsma: Only 24. Had tough luck this year.     • Jose Acevedo: Also 24. Was Louisville's best starter this year.     • Seth Etherton: Big week for him. Needs to show he's healthy.     • Luke Hudson: Great stuff, but has to harness it.     Long shots     • Too many to mention at this point.

        It's Elmer, Ryan Dempster (maybe) and The Three Questions Marks.

        “We control Elmer and Dempster,” Boone said, alluding to the fact they are arbitration-eligible.

        The Reds have to offer Dempster arbitration, but given his struggles since he was traded to the Reds and his relatively high salary ($2.4 million), that's not a lock.

        The two other pitchers in the Reds' rotation — Jimmy Haynes and Shawn Estes — are eligible for free agency, as is Brian Moehler, who is on the disabled list.

        Boone wouldn't rule out any of them coming back.

        “But you don't know,” he said. “I don't think they even know upstairs (in the front office). There are a lot of questions. (Chief operating officer) John Allen has to determine what the budget is.”

        Haynes and Estes said Wednesday they haven't talked to the Reds about re-signing, but both are open to it.

        “I wouldn't be opposed to coming back,” Estes said. “But right now, I'm concentrating on finishing strong. If I do that, everything will take care of itself.”

        Said Haynes: “It's been good for me here. It's a good bunch of guys. I've had a lot of fun. It would be nice to come back.”

        Boone would like this year's year-end rotation back.

        “I've been pretty pleased with Haynes and Estes — and Dempster,” he said. “But that's not my call.”

        In other words, it's a money call, which falls to Reds general manager Jim Bowden, Allen and, ultimately, CEO Carl Lindner.

        Bowden didn't return calls Wednesday or Thursday. But when asked last week about whether the Reds would offer Dempster arbitration, Bowden said: “I'm not going to talk about contracts for next year.”

        The Reds are still trying to figure out what the new collective bargaining agreement means to the club financially.

        It has been assumed that the Reds will increase the player payroll budget with the opening of Great American Ball Park. They'll need it to keep Haynes and Estes.

        Haynes came to the Reds at the bargain price of $500,000. Given that he's in the midst of a career year, he can expect a healthy raise.

        Estes made $6.2 million this year, but the Reds were only responsible for the minimum after the trade with the New York Mets.

        The Reds could decide to go after other free agents, rather than sign Haynes, Estes and Moehler. Moehler, who made $2.4 million this season, could come at a discount given his health issues.

        If the Reds do offer Dempster arbitration, they probably will have three pitchers set for the rotation under contract. That's because it's looking like closer Danny Graves will end up as a starter.

        “I think it's a good idea,” Graves said. “I wasn't totally convinced I wanted to do it last year. But I am this year.”

        The Reds are more inclined to make the move after deciding against it last year. Scott Williamson and John Riedling were both coming off surgery entering this season. They've been so effective lately that the Reds could use them as part of closer-by-committee next year.

        Joey Hamilton, the Opening Day starter this year, has shown closer's stuff since going to bullpen, although his results have been spotty. And he's another free agent.

        The Reds also have a lot of young pitchers who could end up in the rotation.

        Chris Reitsma, who took the fifth starter spot after Moehler went on the disabled list, is the strongest candidate.

        His record isn't great at 5-10, but his ERA — 3.91 — shows he has good stuff.

        Left-hander Bruce Chen is another possibility. Jose Acevedo was 12-7 with a 3.20 ERA at Triple-A.

        Luke Hudson probably fits in the plans somewhere.

        Lance Davis finished strong at Louisville.

        Seth Etherton, after two years of dealing with injuries, could be in the mix.

        The young talent — Dustin Moseley, Ty Howington, et al — are probably at least a year away, although someone could emerge.

        “We've got a lot of options,” Graves said, “and a lot of questions to be answered.”

        Sounds a lot like it did at this time last season. "We've got a lot of options. and a lot of questions.'

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