By the end of last season, it became evident that Barry Larkin's playing days, at least as a Cincinnati Red, were coming to a close. After his best season since 1999, which included one last selection to the National League's All-Star team, Barry was informed by the Reds front office that he would not be offered a contract for 2005. At the time, he refused to rule out the possibility of ending his career with another team if, as he put it, the right opportunity presented itself.

    And as expected for a player of his caliber, several opportunities came knocking, most notably a chance to be the starting shortstop for the defending National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. For most players, the chance to go out playing for a proven winner would have been a dream come true.

    But not for Barry Larkin. When the moment of truth came, he just couldn't commit himself to play for anyone other than his hometown team. "I thought eventually I'd be able to say, yeah, I can do this," Larkin told The Associated Press in a phone interview from his home in Orlando, Fla. "But I'm big on loyalty. I couldn't come to grips with making a 100-percent commitment (to another team)."

    Larkin grew up here in Cincinnati, and has spent his entire career with the Reds, which is something he considers one of his proudest accomplishments. In the modern era of free agency in Major League Baseball, where many players are rightly considered hired guns for whoever is the highest bidder, such loyalty is a relic of the past. And in my opinion, it should not go unrewarded.

    Larkin was willing to discuss a role as a backup infielder with the Reds in which he would work to develop the young shortstops that are replacing him. He then hoped to move into the front office in some capacity. If Barry is truly willing to accept this role, and I for one am willing to accept his word that he is, I can't imagine a better player to have coming off the bench with a game on the line. But if the Reds still aren't willing to take this route, at the very least, they should consider adding a Cincinnati icon who is one of the best to ever wear a Reds uniform to the front office staff.

    Barry has reportedly been in contact with ESPN about job possibilities and has talked to other teams about a front office job, something that has long been a stated goal after his playing days were over. Sadly, the Reds do not have many of their past greats involved on such a level within the organization, though players like Jose Rijo and Tony Perez have found opportunities with others.

    It would be a shame to see them allow another potential Hall of Famer to slip away, especially one so loyal to the team and the city that he would turn down one last season in the sun to remain a Red. Team owner Carl Linder has intervened to keep Larkin in the family before, and unlike previous seasons, has recently opened up his enormous pocketbook to make the Reds a serious contender in 2005. This time, however, money is not the issue. Loyalty is. And as someone who shares Barry's obvious love for our great city, he should step up one more time and see to it that Barry remains a part of the family for many years to come.

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Other Reds Sites

· www.cincinnatireds.com
· The Sporting News
· Cincinnati Enquirer
· Cincinnati Post
· majorleaguebaseball.com
· ESPN.com
· Fastball
· USA Today
· Minor league affiliates

All photos credited to: The Cincinnati Enquirer