Hal Morris stepped off the trading block this weekend to participate in RedsFest.
Morris has gone from already-gone to Opening Day first baseman this offseason. Morris, who has spent seven seasons with the Reds, says life on the bubble is no fun.
''What's unsettling is you don't where you're going to be,'' Morris said. ''That's the most bothersome.''
The Reds had a trade worked out: Bret Boone was going to Atlanta for Fred McGriff, and the Reds were going to trade Morris to Detroit.
The deal fell through when the Reds could not afford to pick up $1.5 million of Morris' $3.1 million salary or get Atlanta to absorb some of McGriff's $5 million.
Morris has been the subject of trade talks before.
''There have been a lot of rumors in the past,'' he said. ''Nothing like this, where it looked like it was going to be a done deal.''
Reds manager Ray Knight said he is content to go into the season with Morris at first.
''Hal knows how entrenched he is here in my mind and how much I want him to be part my team,'' Knight said. ''Your name is always going to be mentioned in trades. I don't think when you've been around as long Hal that it affects you.''
Morris led the Reds regulars with .313 average. He had 16 home runs, 80 RBI and 82 runs.
''I'd just like him to produce the way he has,'' Knight said. ''A lot of people think first basemen have to be four- and five-hole hitters who drive in a lot of runs. Hal is what he is. He's a great hitter ... He produced 162 runs.''
Morris will not change his approach because of the trade talk.
''I'm know I'm not Fred McGriff,'' he said. ''But how many of those guys are there ... I certainly understand trying to get Fred. But I'd like to stay here.''
Trading places
Fans at RedsFest got to bounce their trade ideas off Reds General Manager Jim Bowden.
The lesson learned: You don't just trade players, you trade salaries.
Some proposed trades and Bowden's reaction:
Bret Boone to San Diego for Steve Finley?
''First thing we do is look at the money,'' Bowden said. ''Finley makes $4.6 million this year. Bret's going to be in the range of $1.5 to $2.0 million. We can't afford it.
''The other thing you look at is Bret Boone is 27 years old. Steve Finley is 34 years old. It doesn't make sense long-term.''
Willie Greene and Reggie Sanders to Cleveland for Matt Williams?
''Matt Williams makes $6.7 million this year and $7 million next,'' Bowden said. ''Let's go to the next trade.''
Kevin Jarvis, Curtis Goodwin, Hector Carrasco to Montreal for Pedro Martinez?
''I like that deal because you can never get enough pitching,'' Bowden said. ''Montreal would not make that trade because it would not fit for them. We would have to take on more money, but I think it's a good trade suggestion because you can never get enough pitching. Pedro Martinez is ... dominating, a 15-game winner type.''
The best fan idea? Minor-leaguers Pokey Reese and Brook Fordyce to the Pirates for Jason Kendall, the young catching star.
''That's a well thought-out trade,'' Bowden.
Bowden said the idea the fans floated were not that much different than some he hears from fellow GMs.
How about Dennis Martinez?
Bowden did give a hint who one of his bargain specials could be this spring. Some asked about former Cleveland pitcher Dennis Martinez, a free agent.
''We've talked to his agent,'' Bowden said. ''The salary figures they give us are all seven figures. We can't afford that for 43-year-old pitcher with arm problems. But if the market drops, he's a guy we would take a gamble on. He might add stability to our staff.''
Ripple effect
The Reds sold more than 500 tickets to Opening Day at RedsFest.
REDSFEST IS BIG HIT
