If Larkin Agrees, He Goes to Mets

The Cincinnati Reds have worked out a deal that would send Barry Larkin to the New York Mets, if the All-Star shortstop approves.

The Mets are interested in him as a replacement for shortstop Rey Ordonez, out for the season after breaking an arm.

Larkin, a free agent after the season, would like to end his career in his hometown of Cincinnati, but would approve a trade if the Reds are not going to sign him.

Larkin, who has spent all of his 15 major league seasons with the Reds, has the right to veto any trade.

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The New York Yankees continued to tinker with their roster, acquiring slugger Glenallen Hill from the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitchers Ben Ford and Ozwaldo Mairena. Hill was batting .262 with 11 homers and 28 RBIs in 168 at-bats for the Cubs. The Yankees plan to use him to help fill in for left fielder Shane Spencer, who is out for the season, and as a pinch-hitter. . . . Shortstop Alex Rodriguez is close to getting back in the Seattle Mariner lineup. The shortstop, on the disabled list because of a sprained right knee suffered July 7 against the Dodgers, took ground balls and did some hitting and running before the Mariners’ game Friday night. He could play Monday against Oakland.

The Atlanta Braves, trying to bolster their bench for the second half, claimed catcher Paul Bako off waivers from the Florida Marlins. Bako was batting .239 with no homers and 14 RBIs in 56 games for the Marlins and one game with Houston. He was traded from the Astros to Florida on April 11. . . . San Diego Padre reliever Steve Montgomery was placed on the disabled list for the second time this season because of a strained right shoulder and was replaced on the roster by left-hander Dave Maurer from triple-A Las Vegas. To make room for Maurer, right-hander Brian Boehringer went from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. . . . The Philadelphia Phillies placed catcher Mike Lieberthal on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Tuesday because of a sprained left ankle, and activated first baseman Rico Brogna, who completed a rehab assignment in Clearwater, Fla. . . . The Boston Red Sox placed left-hander Pete Schourek on the 15-day disabled list because of soreness in his pitching shoulder. The Red Sox also announced that Hall of Fame inductee Carlton Fisk will have his No. 27 retired on Sept. 4.

The fate of the 22 former umpires who lost their jobs last September has become all or nothing. John Hirschbeck, president of the new umpires’ union, said he would negotiate a new labor contract without settling the case of the 22 unless the old umpires’ union accepted baseball’s offer to rehire 10 of the umpires by Aug. 1. . . . John Westhoff, who has spent the last 20 years as associate counsel for major league baseball, was hired as a vice president by the Florida Marlins.