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Reds: Kearns staying put
Kullman says no trade talks ongoing with Red Sox, Indians
BY JOHN FAY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Brad Kullman, the Reds interim general manager, said today that there are no ongoing trade talks with the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians regarding outfielder Austin Kearns.

"All the rumors are about what happened in the past," Kullman said.
The Reds reportedly turned down a trade last week than would have sent Kearns to Cleveland and Matt Clement to Cincinnati in a three-way deal. The Indians also reportedly offered Jake Westbrook for Kearns straight up.
Former Reds GM Dan O'Brien said no to both deals.

Kullman said he has been talking trades pretty much non-stop the last two days. He's contacted nearly every team in baseball. He's brought in all his top advisers.

But that does not mean something is about to happen.

"There's a chance," he said. "But I don't want to trade Austin Kearns. I don't want to trade Adam Dunn. There are a lot of players on our team that I like.

“But, the fact is we won 73 games last year and 76 two years ago. Do we want to bring back the same team, minus Sean Casey?"

Clement and Westbrook would upgrade the Reds' staff. But neither is coming off a great year. Clement was 13-6 with a 4.57 ERA last year with Boston.
His numbers fell off after he was struck in the face by a line drive.
Westbrook was 15-15 with a 4.49 ERA last year after going 14-9 with a 3.38 ERA in 2004.

Kullman is not shy about pulling the trigger on trades. He made the moves that brought pitchers Aaron Harang and Brandon Claussen to the Reds as interim GM in 2003.

Special assistants Johnny Almaraz, Gene Bennett, Leland Maddox, Larry Barton Jr. and Johnny Bench were brought into discuss possible moves.
"We've had some great discussions," Kullman said.

Kullman would like to build on the good will that has been generated since Bob Castellini took over as owner.

"We'd like to come out of the gate strong and be in the mix," he said. "Then maybe we could make a couple of moves at the trading deadline and be contenders."
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