If that's the case, Larkin will leave somewhat bitter.

Barry Larkin walks to the plate Friday night. (AP photo/Al Behrman)

Larkin is holding out hope of returning for his 20th season with the Reds, but the chasm between the two seems to grow as the season dwindles. Even if he's offered a contract, there's no guarantee Larkin will be back.

"My wife's upset about the way things have gone the last month," Larkin said. "My family's really upset. I'd have to convince them."

Larkin started only three games in September. General manager Dan O'Brien met with him Sept. 3 and told him Felipe Lopez and Anderson Machado were going to split time at shortstop.

Larkin, 40, has been used almost exclusively as a pinch hitter. He went into Friday hitless in his last 18 at-bats.

"Not playing has affected my ability to play," Larkin said. "In Chicago, fans were yelling to me: 'Come here, we'll let you play.' I heard it in Pittsburgh and Atlanta. Fans know my situation. They make a joke of it. I want to be proud of this franchise. But the track record lately isn't good."

Larkin still believes he can play. That's why he isn't ready to retire.

"Hanging it up is the question," he said. "I think you hang it up when you can't play anymore. I was playing well. I had four errors at shortstop."

But a pair of injuries - an abdominal strain and an oblique strain - severely limited Larkin's range in the field.

The Reds repeatedly have said they will not negotiate with free agents, including Larkin, until the season ends.

Larkin said he didn't think his playing status should affect his ultimate goal of working in the front office. But he wasn't optimistic that would happen.

"I've talked to players from other organizations, Kirby Puckett, Dave Winfield," he said. "It was an easy transition. It's not flowing here."

Said Reds chief operating officer John Allen: "Barry wants to play next year. When he retires, we'll sit down and talk (about a position in the front office)."

The Larkin decision could end up in the hands of CEO Carl Lindner. Twice before (2003 and 2000), it looked as if Larkin were finished as a Red, but Lindner stepped in and signed him to a new contract.

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