By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SARASOTA, Fla. - Barry Larkin gets the question fairly often. Even his wife, Lisa, has asked him about it. "If you play well this season, would you consider playing another?"

Larkin, who will turn 40 on April 28, said this would be his last season when he agreed to a one-year contract Sept. 28. The Reds even have scheduled his sendoff for Oct. 2.

But when Larkin is feeling as good as he has this spring - he was hitting .400 over his last six games going into Tuesday night's matchup with the Boston Red Sox - he sees a scenario in which he could play in 2005.

"If the people of Cincinnati really, really want me back and this team really wants me back, if the future shortstop is not quite ready, if the front office of John Allen and Carl Lindner want me, I would consider coming back," he said.

But Larkin's health is the biggest factor. He has averaged just more than 90 games the last four seasons and has been on the disabled list six times in that span - with six different injuries.

"When I'm healthy, I feel like I can play. But that's the thing - to stay healthy," Larkin said. "That's definitely a huge part of it. ... When you get close to the end, health becomes an issue."

Even if Larkin's healthy and the Reds want him back, he could retire after a good season.

"That's what I want, to go out healthy and happy," he said.

Right now, Larkin is preparing according to the original retirement plan.

"I have no expectations of returning," he said. "I expect this to be my last year. ... I'm comfortable with the fact that this is it."

This is Larkin's 19th season with the Reds - the longest tenure of any current player in the majors with the same club. Larkin will equal his childhood hero, Dave Concepcion, for the longest career playing exclusively for the Reds.

Larkin is still easily the best shortstop the Reds have in camp.

"He's played very well," general manager Dan O'Brien said. "He's physically fit, completely healthy. There's a bounce in his step and he's playing with his usual enthusiasm. Translation: He's having fun."

Larkin's career has spanned the era of fat contracts. He could retire and spend his time fishing and coaching his son DeShane's basketball team.

But he wants to stay involved in the game. Larkin is part-owner of Champions Baseball Academy in Sharonville. The ownership group, which includes former Reds Chris Welsh and Buddy Bell and team physician Dr. Tim Kremchek, also has facilities in Louisville and is building one in Orlando, Fla.

"I'll be involved in those," Larkin said.

Larkin also would like to give a little back to the game.

"The thing that intrigues me is trying to set up programs to get more minorities involved in the game," Larkin said "The numbers have declined tremendously. I'd like to get more African-Americans involved in baseball."

Larkin would like to see the Reds involved also.

"Obviously, I need to be afforded some authority to do that, which I have not been given yet," he said.

Larkin, who is fluent in Spanish, also would like to be part of the club's international program.

"The prospect of spreading baseball internationally is intriguing to me," he said.

So retirement would not be dull.

"I've got a lot of things I'd like to do," Larkin said.

But there's always an "if" when Larkin talks about his future.

"If some kind of revelation happens, " he said, "I guess I would consider coming back."

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com