| | Associated Press
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- With his trade from the New York Yankees
to the Cincinnati Reds, two-sport star Drew Henson said he might
turn his back on baseball.
Henson said the deal Wednesday that sent him to the Reds will
force him to decide between baseball and football. In less than
three weeks, he will begin practice for his junior season as
the University of Michigan's starting quarterback.
"At least now, I want to rethink what my priorities are between
baseball and football," Henson told The Ann Arbor News by phone Thursday. "I have to look at why I might want to play baseball. Is
it because I was playing for the Yankees, or because I love
baseball?
"I think, in the long run, this will make me understand whether
I'm doing it for the right reasons."
The Yankees, who saw Henson as a top prospect since drafting him
out of Brighton High School in Michigan in 1998, dealt the 20-year-old
part-time third baseman after he refused to commit to one sport.
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner reportedly offered Henson as
much as $3 million to stick with baseball, although Henson said no
dollar figure was floated.
Henson's name first surfaced in trade talks between the Yankees
and the Detroit Tigers for outfielder Juan Gonzalez last month.
The deal Wednesday sent him and three other minor-leaguers to the
Reds for left-handed ace Denny Neagle and a minor league
outfielder.
Henson said Steinbrenner's representatives told him before the
Tigers trade rumors surfaced that his name would be dropped if he
would focus on baseball. Henson said he couldn't make that decision
then.
"I am disappointed that I could not stay with the
organization," Henson said. "It's a good organization and a good
city. (Steinbrenner) was prepared to make me a Yankee for life, but
I was not prepared to make that commitment at this time. My
commitment to Michigan is still there."
Many predicted Henson would someday follow Michigan native and
All-Star shortstop Derek Jeter and wear pinstripes in the Yankees'
infield.
Henson hit .284 in his first two professional baseball seasons.
At Double-A Norwich this year, he hit .287 with seven home runs and
39 RBI in 59 games.
He will report to the Reds' Double-A team in Chattanooga on
Friday and could play that night.
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