(AP) WASHINGTON--Everyone knew the Sea Dogs were looking around for
hitters. Monday, they got one of the best, shipping top prospects Mike
Lieberthal and Eddie Guardado to Cincinnati for shortstop Barry Larkin.
Washington manager Aaron Weiner was overjoyed at the arrival of Larkin.
"Words cannot describe how much the acquisition of Larkin means to us,"
Washington manager Aaron Weiner said, almost in tears. "But as valued as
he is to our ballclub, we understand how much leaving Cincinnati must have
bothered him."
Larkin seemed somewhat upbeat, however.
"They told me they'd let me retire a Sea Dog if I wanted to, that they'd
build a no-trade clause into my contract," Larkin said. "It feels great
to be respected like that, that my needs as a veteran player were met by
this organization."
It was big news in Cincinnati early this offseason that Larkin had waived
his 10-5 rights, being the right to refuse any trade because he was a 10
year veteran and had spent at least the last five with the same team. But
Larkin explained why he did it.
"It's always hard to leave the city you started out in," Larkin, a 12-year
veteran, all with Cincinnati, said. "But I knew this might happen the
minute they drafted Billy Wagner off of Vero Beach, that they might start
to rebuild. So I told them, if it would help the franchise, you can start
offering me around."
Larkin also added that there weren't a lot of organizations that he really
wanted to go to, and among them, only Washington had offered.
"I was impressed by the way the players were able to bond with one another
on this team," Larkin said. "I had dinner with Chuck Knoblauch and J. T.
Snow, and they took me in right away. And the organization takes care of
their players here, really well."
Washington general manager Aaron Weiner had a few words to say as well.
"Larkin provides a real veteran presence in the middle of our order,"
the GM said, "and a power-average guy as well, something we lacked. Most
importantly, however, he's going to allow Cal Ripken to become a full-time
DH."
Ripken, who suffered a serious, season-ending injury in May while playing
the field, says that the move is actually okay with him.
"While it wouldn't have been okay before the injury, I can understand the
team's point of view afterward," Ripken said. "I'm also pleased to say
that the injury has totally healed, and I'll be ready for the start of the
season."
Ripken, according to Manager Weiner, would not go back to shortstop even
if Larkin were to suffer some sort of injury.
"That's why we traded for Pokey Reese last year," Weiner said. "Ripken's
range of mobility is seriously in question because of the knee, and we
don't want to do anything to damage it again."
Lieberthal was supposedly the organization's #2 catcher, with a great
power potential, while Guardado was the team's top lefty arm in the
minors.
"We're gonna miss both of them," Weiner said, "especially Mike Lieberthal.
He was going to be our DH in a couple years, and had really improved a ton
this offseason. But we feel like Charles Johnson and Jason Kendall can do
a more-than-adequate job."
