Padres Trade Vaughn To Reds

San Diego's Greg Vaughn, who hit 50 homers last year, was traded to the Cincinnati Reds today in a five-player deal that sent oft-injured Reggie Sanders to the Padres.

San Diego also sent left-handed pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney to the Reds. Besides Sanders, the Reds gave up infielder Damian Jackson and minor leaguer Josh Harris.

The Padres have been looking to unload Vaughn, who will make $5.75 million million salary, plus his history of injuries.

The trade of Vaughn continues a financial makeover of the Padres, who claim that they've lost about$50 million since John Moores and Larry Lucchino bought the team in December 1994.

Since being swept by the New York Yankees in the World Series, the Padres had a new ballpark approved by the voters, but also lost have lost ace Kevin Brown, center fielder Steve Finley, third baseman Ken Caminiti and have traded starter Joey Hamilton.

The Padres had no chance of keeping Brown, who signed a record $105 million, seven-year deal with division rival Los Angeles, and offered far less than what Finley got from another division foe, Arizona. The Padres made only a token offer to Caminiti, who was broken down physically by the time the Series ended and rejoined the Houston Astros.

After struggling in a platoon system with Rickey Henderson the last two months of 1996 and most of 1997, Vaughn had a remarkable comeback in 1998. He became the 27th player in big league history to hit 50 homers and had a career-high 119 RBIs, tied for the second-most by a Padres player.

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