Reds Get Denny from Phils : Yankees, White Sox Working on Trade Involving Baylor, Fisk

John Denny became a Cincinnati Red and owners unanimously approved the Pittsburgh Pirates’ sale Wednesday at the winter meetings.

Denny, a former Cy Young Award winner, departed the Philadelphia Phillies with pitching prospect Jeff Gray for outfielder Gary Redus and right-handed reliever Tom Hume.

Also, the Yankees and White Sox edged closer to the long-rumored deal that would send catcher Carlton Fisk to New York and Don Baylor to Chicago.

The Denny deal became official when approved by Philadelphia’s Bill Giles, who was in an owners’ meeting throughout the afternoon.

The meetings have so far produced four deals involving 13 players.

Commissioner Ueberroth held a briefing on the owners’ meeting, but offered few specifics.

He announced the Pittsburgh transfer to a public-private group of which Malcolm Prine is the president.

Yankee Owner George Steinbrenner met with Jerry Kapstein, agent for Fisk and Baylor, in a bid to forge the deal.

In addition, the Baltimore Orioles were offering right-hander Storm Davis to the Seattle Mariners for third baseman Jim Presley.

Also, the San Francisco Giants were offering outfielder Chili Davis to Kansas City for right-hander Mark Gubicza.

Ueberroth refused comment on the expansion issue; said the negotiations to keep the Giants in San Francisco were continuing; denied that owners are colluding to limit salaries and criticized reports that he is planning a political career.

“If you take that punch,” he said, “you’re taking an unfair one.”

The Denny trade marked the second straight year that a 1983 Cy Young Award winner changed hands at the winter meetings.

Last year, the San Diego Padres acquired right-hander LaMarr Hoyt from the White Sox for shortstop Ozzie Guillen to Chicago.