Thursday, July 3, 1997
It's Reds or retirement

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Deion says he doesn't
want to leave Cincinnati

BY TIM BROWN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders said Wednesday that he did not return to baseball to play anywhere but in Cincinnati.

The Reds insist they would not trade Sanders, despite recent interest from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And Sanders wouldn't go, anyway. "I would just retire," he said.

The Dodgers apparently are shopping first baseman Eric Karros, and have offered him to the Reds for Sanders, first baseman Hal Morris and second baseman Bret Boone.

Sanders presents a different case than most because he doesn't need baseball, though he enjoys the game and the comraderie of his teammates.

Sanders signed a one-year contract with the Reds this offseason, with the understanding he would return to the Dallas Cowboys when he and General Manager Jim Bowden agreed the Reds were no longer in contention.

Sanders' contract includes an option for next season.

Los Angeles appears to be everything Sanders does not want in a baseball town. It's crowded, and there's too much traffic and media attention.

Therefore, even if they tried, the Reds probably would have little success buying out the no-trade clause in his contract. On Wednesday morning, Reds shortstop Barry Larkin strode past Sanders' locker, looked over his shoulder and said, "What's up, Shaq?"

Sanders laughed.

"If I was going to go to L.A. to play, I'd play for the Raiders," he said. "I know they're not there, but I don't think anybody is interested in me but the Raiders."

Asked if Cincinnati were was his only venue for baseball, Sanders said, "As of now, that's true. I'm not even entertaining that thought, man."

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