Larkin Rejects Trade to Mets

July 23 -- Cincinnati Reds general manager Jim Bowdensaid superstar shortstop Barry Larkin has rejected a trade today that would have sent him to the New York Mets.

Larkin’s agent told Bowden that the All-Star willfinish the season with the Reds.

Bowden says the Reds won’t try to work out another tradeinvolving their captain.

He says the team hopes to sign Larkin so he will stay inCincinnati — but says right now he is asking for too much money.

‘Awkward Position’

Rumors of a dead deal were reported late Saturday.

“The problem was that when Jim Bowden decided to trade Barry, Itold him to only trade him to a team willing to give him athree-year deal,” Larkin’s agent Eric Goldschmidt told the Newark Star-Ledger.

“Jimdisregarded that and told [Mets general manager] Steve Phillips that Barry wouldagree to a trade just for the end of the season. The Mets weremisled and it put Barry in an awkward situation.”

The commissioner’s office gave the Mets permission to negotiatewith Larkin during a 72-hour window that started at 10 a.m.Saturday.

The Mets wanted Larkin to fill in for shortstop Rey Ordonez, outthe rest of the season with a broken arm. Larkin indicated hewasn’t interested going to a team for a half-season, preferring acontract extension.

The Reds had arranged the trade after rejecting Larkin’s request fora three-year, $27.9 million extension. Larkin can become a freeagent after the season.

Larkin’s contract pays $5.3 million this season. He was comingoff a National League MVP season when he agreed to an extension in1996 that was well below market value, and he wants a bettercontract this time.

Larkin is the second high-profile player to reject a trade tothe Mets. Ken Griffey Jr. also turned down a deal with New York inthe offseason before signing an extension with Cincinnati.