By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SAN DIEGO - Aaron Boone sat in the visitor's clubhouse Tuesday and idly chatted with Sean Casey.

It was easy to imagine Boone putting on a Reds uniform again and playing vs. the San Diego Padres.

That, of course, wasn't going to happen. Boone is still recovering from offseason knee surgery and is months from playing. He is a man without a team.

He hopes to play for someone this season - probably in late July or August.

"We're going through the free-agent process," Boone said, "meeting with teams."

The Reds haven't met with Boone, and he shouldn't expect a call.

"At this time, that's unlikely," Reds general manager Dan O'Brien said.

Casey thinks that's a mistake.

"He'd be a great fit for us," Casey said. "He's so popular in Cincinnati. People ask me all the time: 'Is Boonie coming back?' "

Boone was released by the New York Yankees in February and awarded an injury settlement after he tore a knee ligament playing basketball the previous month.

The Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly among the teams interested in signing Boone.

Boone would seem to be a fit for the Reds, especially with shortstop Barry Larkin under contract only for this year and Brandon Larson struggling defensively at third. Boone can play either shortstop or third.

"It's a matter of we made a commitment to some of our younger players," O'Brien said. "One of those is Brandon Larson.

"And, while he's had his share of hard luck with injuries, we're committed to giving him the opportunity to play third."

Boone, 31, is walking without a limp and looking a little thicker in the upper body. "Every day is Groundhog Day," he said. "I work out with trainer, then go to rehab."