Henderson’s Trip Could Be Short

Rickey Henderson will find out shortly whether the long trip to Tokyo was merely a detour on the way to Detroit.

The Tigers want him, and the New York Mets are listening. Henderson has heard the trade talk too.

“It doesn’t bother me,� the 41-year-old left fielder said Sunday. “If they don’t want me here, fine. I’ve been in this game too long, and I know I can’t play unhappy. If they’re unhappy with me, trade me. But if they’re going to do it, I just wish they’d done it before we came over here.�

The Mets, who open the season Wednesday night against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome, are interested in Detroit outfielder Bobby Higginson. The Tigers reportedly asked for Henderson and pitcher Dennis Cook, but were rejected. The New York Yankees also are interested in Higginson.

Of Henderson’s situation, Met General Manager Steve Phillips said: “I’ve been talking to a fair number of general managers. The time difference over here has not been a problem. We’ve been able to reach each other fairly easily.�

And how would a player feel about making the trip to Tokyo for nothing? “That would end up being his new club’s problem,� Phillips said.

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The Atlanta Braves could be close to trading closer John Rocker, according to a published report.

The Record of Hackensack (N.J.) reports in today’s editions that a “highly placed baseball official� said Atlanta and the Montreal Expos are on the verge of a deal that would swap Rocker for closer Ugueth Urbina.

The delay has been discussions about who else might be included. The Braves would prefer to make a straight swap, but the Expos want another pitcher, preferably starter Bruce Chen.

Urbina led the National League with 41 saves last year. Rocker had 38 saves.

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Jim Bowden, general manager of the Cincinnati Reds, wanted to talk to Greg Vaughn to try to straighten things out.

“I never said that Greg Vaughn is selfish,� Bowden said.

Bowden didn’t get to see his former cleanup hitter--Vaughn didn’t make the trip to Sarasota with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for an exhibition game with the Reds. Bowden wanted to talk to Vaughn about comments the left fielder made a day earlier criticizing him and Manager Jack McKeon.

Bowden wasn’t with the team Saturday when Vaughn said he was bitter because Bowden and McKeon labeled him selfish and demanding after he left the Reds as a free agent after last season.

On Sunday, Bowden praised Vaughn’s contribution to the Reds, who lost to the New York Mets in a playoff for the NL wild card.

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Outfielder Deion Sanders is running much better and should be ready to play for triple-A Louisville when the Riverbats open at home on April 12.

Sanders, in Cincinnati’s camp on a minor league contract, had a homer, a single and a bunt single in four at-bats for the Red minor leaguers against Baltimore’s minor leaguers.

Sanders had arthroscopic knee surgery in January.

“Everything’s going real good,� Sanders said. “I’ve just got to get better every day.�

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Catchers Bobby Estalella and Doug Mirabelli have been so impressive in spring training that San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker is leaning toward playing both of them during the season.

“They might propel each other to higher heights and that would help us big time,� said Baker. “I’m very pleased with the catching situation. We have to find a way to keep them both healthy and strong.�

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The Atlanta Braves signed reliever Greg McMichael to a minor league contract.