Friday, March 21, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Will he stay or will he go? It doesn't really matter to San Diego Padres outfielder Rickey Henderson.
Henderson has been the subject of trade talks all spring, but Padres general manager Kevin Towers hasn't been able to complete a deal for the 38-year-old. With less than two weeks to go before the season opens, Henderson seems resigned to the fact that he will not be a starting player on Opening Day.
"No, I don't think it's close anymore," Henderson said of a trade. "I'm under contract with them, so I play and prepare the same way I always do. I think the guys on the team know what kind of player I am and what I can do for them. They know (the trade talk) is not about my ability, it's just the situation I'm in."
Henderson became expendable when the Padres acquired slugger Greg Vaughn from the Milwaukee Brewers last July. Vaughn hit 10 home runs and drove in 22 runs in 37 starts with San Diego while platooning with Henderson. Combining his stats with Milwaukee and the Padres, Vaughn hit .260 with 41 homers, 117 RBIs, 98 runs scored and a .539 slugging percentage.
Henderson, baseball's all-time stolen base king, said he believes he can still contribute to a team as a starting outfielder -- and has been proving it this spring with a .382 batting average in 11 games.
"I know I can play the game for anybody right now, so I don't have much to worry about," he said. "I'm just keeping my head strong so when the time comes, I'm ready to play."
Padres manager Bruce Bochy has said that his starting outfield will be Vaughn in left, Steve Finley in center and Tony Gwynn in right.
"Now, as close as we are (to starting the season), we're looking at Rickey starting the season with us," Bochy said, "so we have to get him ready ... but he won't start."
Spring flings
* TOUGH SPRING: Former Las Vegas Stars pitcher Mike Oquist has been struggling in his attempt to land a spot on the Oakland Athletics' staff this spring. After compiling a 9-4 record with a 2.89 ERA and 110 strikeouts last season in Las Vegas, Oquist signed as a free agent with Oakland during the winter. In four outings this spring, the 28-year-old right-hander is 0-2 with a 9.90 ERA and appears destined to return to the Pacific Coast League with Edmonton.
* ON THE OTHER HAND...: Another former Las Vegas Star, outfielder Alex Cole, also is in camp with the Athletics and has a shot to land a spot on the 25-man major-league squad. Cole, who played for the Stars in 1990, is hitting .276 in 'A' games this spring and was 2-for-5 with an RBI in a 'B' game Thursday against San Diego.
* FAMILIAR FACES: Two former Stars players now are managers in the San Diego Padres' minor-league system. Former shortstop Tom LeVasseur (1990) will manage the Padres' Class-A team in Clinton, Iowa, and former catcher Mike Basso (1988-90, 92-93) will begin his second year as the skipper of the Class-A Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) Quakes.
* THE NAME GAME: Padres left fielder Greg Vaughn (41) and cousin Mo Vaughn (44) of the Boston Red Sox combined for 85 home runs in 1996, the most ever in a season by two players with the same last name. Frank Robinson (49) and Brooks Robinson (23) rank second with 72 homers in 1966.
archive
