Despite exploring numerous avenues, their efforts to fill pitching and outfield needs prove futile.

01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, July 29, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BALTIMORE -- Not unlike last July, when they were among the most active teams in the major leagues at the trade deadline, the Red Sox are trying to get into position to make a number of deals before Saturday afternoon's non-waiver period comes to a close.

How successful they are may be another matter altogether, since a number of trades the Sox were involved in yesterday seem to have fallen apart.

Not even the inclusion of a number of third parties, it seemed, could salvage the swaps the Sox were trying to pull off to address pitching and outfield needs. A person with knowledge of the Red Sox dealings last night predicted that if they do anything by Saturday "it will be minor."

In one potential deal, the Sox discussed a package involving Derek Lowe to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Brian Lawrence, outfielder Jay Payton and perhaps reliever Jay Witasick.

The Sox could then have turned around and moved Payton to the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Ricky Ledee. While Payton is right-handed and a superior outfielder, the Sox want a lefty hitter to platoon with Gabe Kapler now that Trot Nixon (quadriceps) could be sidelined a

month or more.

Meanwhile, Payton could have solved the Phils' nearly season-long search for a center fielder. But according to an executive who spoke with Red Sox front office personnel last night, the trade seemed to have fallen apart -- perhaps beyond repair.

It may be that the Padres need to see if they can obtain Steve Finley from Arizona first before parting with Payton.

In another proposed deal, the Sox, who have been trying to obtain first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Minnesota Twins, were said to be trying to work a trade for him through the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates, who are eager to deal pitcher Kris Benson, have been talking to the Twins about a trade for Mientkiewicz and outfield prospect Michael Restovich. But not wanting to be saddled with Mientkiewicz's salary, the Pirates had spoken to the Sox about sending the first baseman to Boston for a package involving Kevin Youkilis.

Meanwhile, suggestions that the Sox might have restarted talks with the Chicago Cubs concerning Nomar Garciaparra seemed unfounded.

"I haven't heard that (Garciaparra) name in the last week to 10 days," said a Cubs source. "I know we talked about doing something earlier, but nothing recently."

Speculation had the Sox willing to talk about a trade sending Garciaparra for starter Matt Clement -- like Garciaparra, a free agent-to-be after the current season. But the Cubs source said Chicago could ill-afford to give up any starting pitching given the uncertain health of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.

In previous discussions with the Cubs, the Sox had been seeking prospects from the Cubs so that they would have ammunition to work a trade for Arizona's Randy Johnson.

Since then, however, the Sox have been told that Johnson would refuse to waive his no-trade rights to come to Boston, much as he did in vetoing a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Sox reached another dead end in their talks with the Diamondbacks concerning Danny Bautista, deeming the asking price far too high for the outfielder.