O'Brien getting a feel for the trade market

[CincyRedsFan30]

By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- Dan O'Brien hears the same trade rumors involving his Reds club as the rest of us.

And often those rumors are as much of a surprise to him as they are to the rest of the baseball world.

"All I can tell you is this: Rumors have no basis in fact," O'Brien said Tuesday, checking in via cell phone from Sarasota, Fla., where he's scoping out the Reds' Gulf Coast League and Florida State League squads. "So it's not something we're preoccupied with."

That's not to say O'Brien hasn't been on that cell phone plenty in recent weeks, getting a feel for the trade market as the July 31 trading deadline approaches.

"Relative to the veteran players, yes, there's been several inquiries," O'Brien said. "And I'm sure those will continue right up until the deadline."

The key word there is "veteran," meaning guys like infielders Joe Randa and Rich Aurilia and reliever David Weathers, all of whom are on one-year contracts.

Of course, plenty of rumors have circulated involving younger players, like Adam Dunn, Wily Mo Pena and Austin Kearns, but O'Brien didn't sound as if he's ready to part with much of his up-and-coming talent.

"In general terms, we like the younger players that we have," he said. "We feel like they're part of our future, and, therefore, our intent is they remain part of our core. But that's not an absolute promise. There's always things that can come up."

If Dunn's available, he'd be a rare commodity at the deadline. It's not often a team can acquire a 25-year-old left-hander with the potential to hit 50 home runs. He's arbitration-eligible this offseason, and the $8 million or $9 million he might command for 2006 would be a tough pill to swallow for a small-market team such as the Reds.

Pena's bat would certainly make him attractive to other clubs, especially in the American League, where his defensive limitations might not be as much of a factor. O'Brien has already said he has no plans to trade Kearns.

Speculation has been floating about possible trades involving Ken Griffey Jr. and Sean Casey, the Reds' highest-paid veterans.

But that is, of course, merely speculation. And O'Brien keeps his plans as close to the vest as any GM in baseball.

He said he uses that low-key approach regarding trade talks for the good of the players.

"It's borne out of respect for the players," he said. "We don't think it's appropriate on a professional level for us to be involved in either promoting rumors or throwing out specific players' names in discussion. As an organization, that's our philosophy. For this organization at this time, that's the appropriate way to go about business."

Whether the Reds will be in the trading business remains to be seen, though their recent games have been a veritable jamboree for scouts from a wealth of organizations.

Though he keeps his cards hidden, O'Brien did have no problem allowing that pitching would be a priority as far as acquisitions are concerned.

"It's remarkable that you can read my mind," he said with a laugh. "By and large, we're looking for younger players who are Major League or near-Major League ready."

So let the rumors continue. But O'Brien will be the one with the final say.

[missionhockey21]

Looking at the the thread title, it reminded me of a little kid who has never been swimming, walking up to the pool. They're intimidated, these are literally waters they have never really treaded and they might build up the courage to stick their foot into the water and run back when they get too scared of thte thought of jumping in.

As a Baseball America article stated I believe, rigor mortis has set in.

[CincyRedsFan30]

Perfect analogy mission. Excellent. You can almost sense the nervousness in his quotes lately. He seems to be wavering on what he wants to do and almost seems to have what very would could be a "nervous laugh" about a lot of things.

[Geki Ace]

Yeah, Dan O with respect for the players. That's it.