Dodgers Send Leary, Duncan to the Reds for Daniels, Rookie

Convinced that even a struggling hitter can help them more than a pitcher, the Dodgers traded pitcher Tim Leary and infielder Mariano Duncan to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday for hobbled outfielder Kal Daniels and rookie infielder Lenny Harris.

Leary, who helped take the Dodgers to the World Series championship, had been banished to the bullpen. If healthy, Daniels could fill the Dodgers’ void at the top of the batting order. For now, everybody is happy.

“I would definitely rather start somewhere else than be in the bullpen here,” Leary, 30, said Tuesday. Despite a 3.18 earned-run average in 17 starts, he was moved to the bullpen last week because of an overcrowded rotation. The Dodgers have the league’s best pitchers (2.89 ERA) and worst hitters (.235 average).

“I feel I’ve pitched impeccably--maybe they just gave up on me,” he said. “Yes, maybe I’m a little bitter. Sometimes maybe I think it is better that I get out of here. I don’t understand some of the moves.”

Daniels, whose biggest problem is not opposing pitchers but four knee operations, told reporters in Cincinnati that the trade will be good for his health.

“I guess it’s good for me because I get to play on grass,” he said. “That’s good because of my knees.”

The Dodgers did not examine Daniels’ knees before the trade, but team medical director Dr. Frank Jobe discussed Daniels’ case with Red physician Warren G. Harding III. Dodger Vice President Fred Claire was satisfied with Jobe’s report.

“There is always a risk in bringing in a player with knee problems, but this is a business of risk,” Claire said.

Daniels, still recovering from his latest surgery in May, is hitting .218 with two home runs and nine runs batted in in 133 at-bats. The left-handed hitter has recently played only against right-handers.

Yet at age 25, he entered this year with a .311 career average in parts of three seasons. He has averaged 22 homers and 64 RBIs in the last two seasons. Daniels, who led the league with a .397 on-base percentage last season, will enter the lineup today as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter and play left field. Kirk Gibson will move to center field.

Daniels said he is looking forward to playing in Los Angeles.

“You’re going to see me on the ‘Cosby Show,’ ” Daniels said Tuesday, apparently not realizing that the show is filmed in New York.

Daniels was involved in some unique contract negotiations last spring. After walking out of training camp for two days, he agreed to let the dispute be decided by a flip of the coin. Red owner Marge Schott called “tails,” the coin came up “heads,” and Daniels was given $12,500 more than the Reds’ final offer of $312,500.

League sources said Leary and Daniels were originally the only two players in the deal, which was nearly completed three weeks ago. But on June 26 in Cincinnati, in a showcase start against the Reds, Leary was unimpressive. He lasted six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits.

The Reds decided they would need Duncan in the deal. This week the Dodgers finally agreed, providing the Reds threw in Harris.

The rookie is hitting .223 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 41 starts. He has committed 13 errors, more than Alfredo Griffin (seven) and Willie Randolph (three) combined.

Yet as a natural third baseman who can play shortstop and second base, Harris will fill the utility role vacated by Duncan.

When Harris was a child in Miami, he served as a batboy for the minor league Miami Orioles. That team featured future Dodgers John Shelby and Eddie Murray.

“I can’t wait to get to L.A.--me and Kal are going to supply offense no matter what,” Harris, 24, told reporters in Cincinnati.

Duncan, who has a .250 average in 49 games, said he was glad to get a chance to start. For the next three weeks, he will replace injured Red shortstop Barry Larkin.

“I’m going to be in the lineup tomorrow and that makes me happy,” Duncan said.

When Leary arrives in Cincinnati, he will want to chat with Red Manager Pete Rose. A couple of weeks ago, when a strictly Leary-for-Daniels deal died, Rose said he was not interested in Leary because he felt Leary had a sore arm.

“I asked the Reds’ scouting director about that,” said Leary, who will join the Reds’ five-man rotation, replacing recently injured Jose Rijo. “He said (Rose’s quote) shouldn’t have been taken at face value. So really I don’t know what to think about that. I did talk to Pete, and he is really excited. That’s all I have to go on.”

Leary’s stay with the Dodgers ended Monday night when, as a reliever, he walked in the eventual winning run in a 6-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Acquired during the winter of 1986 from Milwaukee along with pitcher Tim Crews for first baseman Greg Brock, Leary was 3-11 with a 4.76 ERA in 1987. But last season he went 17-11 with a 2.91 ERA and was voted comeback player of the year.

Daniels, who hit .291 last season, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee May 16. He returned to the lineup June 21 but suffered a sprained right ankle sliding into second base. After missing eight starts, he has been in the lineup since June 30. But the Reds’ fans have not welcomed him back.

“They’ve been booing me since I came off the disabled list, they just think that coming off the DL, you are supposed to pick up the city of Cincinnati and carry it around on your shoulders,” Daniels said.

“I’m back, but I just had knee surgery. I’m human. That’s why I don’t trust too many people. The less people know about you, the less than can say about you.”

Rose is saying less and less about Daniels. He once predicted that Daniels would win batting titles. He’s changed his mind.

“The more I watched him the last couple of months against left-handers, the more I’ve started to doubt,” Rose said.

DODGERS-REDS TRADE STATISTICS TIM LEARY

Year, Team IP W-L BB SO ERA 1981, New York Mets 2 0-0 1 3 0.00 1983, New York Mets 11 1-1 4 9 3.38 1984, New York Mets 54 3-3 18 29 4.02 1985, Milwaukee Brewers 33 1-4 8 29 4.05 1986, Milwaukee Brewers 188 12-12 53 110 4.21 1987, Dodgers 108 3-11 36 61 4.76 1988, Dodgers 229 17-11 56 180 2.91 1989, Dodgers 117 6-7 37 59 3.38 Totals 742 43-49 213 480 3.71

MARIANO DUNCAN

Year, Team AB R H HR RBI Avg. 1985, Dodgers 562 74 137 6 39 .244 1986, Dodgers 407 47 93 8 30 .229 1987, Dodgers 261 31 56 6 18 .215 1989, Dodgers 84 9 21 0 8 .250 Totals 1,314 161 307 20 95 .234

KAL DANIELS

Year, Team AB R H HR RBI .Avg 1986, Cincinnati Reds 181 34 58 6 23 .320 1987, Cincinnati Reds 368 73 123 26 64 .334 1988, Cincinnati Reds 495 95 144 18 64 .291 1989, Cincinnati Reds 133 26 29 2 9 .218 Totals 1,177 228 354 52 160 .301

LENNY HARRIS

Year, Team AB R H HR RBI .Avg 1988, Cincinnati Reds 43 7 16 0 8 .372 1989, Cincinnati Reds 188 17 42 2 11 .223 Totals 231 24 58 2 19 .251