SARASOTA, Fla. - The Atlanta Braves may look to trade for a second baseman, and the Reds happen to have one who has been on the block. Do we have a deal brewing?
Not likely.
The Braves, who let the aging Mark Lemke go in the off-season, may not be comfortable at second base with the Tony Graffanino - Keith Lockhart platoon, evidenced by their hot pursuit of Chuck Knoblauch this winter.
The Reds, of course, have been offering Bret Boone and his $2.8 million salary to anybody who will listen. With Barry Larkin down for a while, the Reds need Boone to steady the infield.
And on top of that, the Braves probably wouldn't want Boone because they're looking for a guy who can be a consistent lead-off hitter. And though Boone has hit well this spring, he has yet to prove he will bounce back from last year's .223 average.
Atlanta reportedly has been talking to the Astros about a deal that would send pitcher Denny Neagle, a 20-game winner last season, to Houston for second baseman Craig Biggio, the 1997 National League gold glove winner and a consistent .300 hitter with power and speed. That would give the pitching-starved Astros a No. 1 starter to replace Darryl Kile, who left for Colorado via free agency, and the Braves a hard-nosed second baseman and leadoff hitter.
The Reds would still like to lower their payroll, but a Reds official says trading Boone doesn't make sense with Larkin out 4-to-6 weeks. Don't expect it to happen.
The Angels reportedly had interest in Boone at one point, but a source said they haven't had talks with the Reds about a trade since November.
A baseball executive says he doesn't believe the Neagle-Biggio trade will happen because the Astros have tried to build around Biggio, and the Braves might not want to add to their payroll.
Red-faced
Boston Red Sox pitcher Dennis Eckersley, 43, says he is a notoriously slow starter. But even he is dumbfounded by giving up three home runs in his first four innings this spring, including two consecutive bombs to Reds backups Aaron Boone and Roberto Petagine in a game last Tuesday.
''I feel embarrassed,'' Eckersley said.
Tabloid romance
It had to happen sometime. New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter's girlfriend - pop star Mariah Carey - showed up at spring training last week. She attended three games and was seen having lunch with Jeter in a Tampa restaurant.
Jeter, however, doesn't quite understand what a stir he's causing. He refuses to answer questions about the relationship and has been so touchy about it, even teammates are getting the sense the topic is off-limits. The New York Daily News dispatched a reporter and photographer for the sole purpose of catching them together.
No luck, but we hear Hard Copy is warming up in the bullpen. (Honest).
Mo problems
Boston first baseman Mo Vaughn believes the Red Sox will conduct a smear campaign against him this year so they'll have an excuse not to sign him. He believes they don't like him because of his recent drunken driving arrest (he was acquitted in court) and because he doesn't conform to the image management likes.
''You look at the guys that left (Mike Greenwell, Wil Cordero, Jose Canseco) because they didn't conform,'' Vaughn said.
That begs the question: Does Vaughn really want to be in the company of Cordero and Canseco, who have both been accused of beating their wives or girlfriends?
Former Reds club
One-time Cincinnati Reds were making news all over major league camps last week. In Oakland, the A's plucked pudgy outfielder Kevin Mitchell off the softball fields of San Diego and are giving him a chance to make the team. He reportedly has lost about 25 pounds since his being cut by Cleveland early last season.
In Chicago, outfielder Ruben Sierra has also been on the Jenny Craig conditioning program and is expected to get plenty of at bats with the White Sox . . . New York Mets closer John Franco requested a meeting with team owner Fred Wilpon to discuss a new contract - no agents, no general managers allowed, just one Brooklyn guy to another . . . Pitcher Pete Schourek, who had off-season elbow surgery, should get his first spring action soon with the Astros.
War of words
Barry Bonds and Larry Walker both have NL MVP trophies, but they don't seem to be the friendliest members of the club.
Bonds recently ripped Walker for letting the award get to his head, calling him Larry ''MVP'' Walker. Walker, the 1997 winner from Colorado, responded last week by taking a shot at Bonds, who has never been known for the smallness of his noggin.
''I didn't get three new initials in my name,'' said Walker, by most reports not an egomaniac. ''It's not Larry 'MVP' Walker. My name's Larry K. R. Walker. I prefer it to be that way. I don't want it to be like other players. I don't need to be Barry Bonds and have all this hype about stuff I did. I'm just Larry.''
Just Larry, by the way, went 3-for-3 with an RBI triple in his first start of the spring last week after having unexpected elbow surgery just two months before.
''Nothing he does surprises me,'' Rockies' manager Don Baylor said.
LA confidential
Rumors are the agent for Los Angeles Dodgers' star Mike Piazza has been secretly negotiating a seven-year, $105 million contract with TV mogul Rupert Murdoch, who is expected to gain approval to buy the club at this week's owners meetings.
The final word
From former Moeller High and current Seattle Mariners star Ken Griffey, Jr., complaining bitterly (uh-huh) that women fans at a Phoenix Suns game bothered him and not companions Alex Rodriguez, a baby-faced 22-year old, and bald-headed, goatee-faced Jay Buhner. ''Of course, they had no choice,'' Griffey said of the admirers. ''Alex is too young for women - and Jay is too ugly.''
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