DANA POINT, Calif. -- At the current asking price, Ken Griffey Jr. is too expensive for his hometown Cincinnati Reds.

Cincinnati general manager Jim Bowden said Wednesday he made five proposals that the Seattle Mariners rejected, and the Mariners made three proposals that the Reds rebuffed.

Bowden wouldn't say how many players were included in the offers, but he gave a hint at what it would cost to get Griffey.

	Griffey

"It would make us non-competitive," said Bowden, who put together a team that lost a one-game playoff to the New York Mets for the NL's wild-card spot. "Instead of 96, we think we'd win 79. They're asking for all of our best players." Bowden didn't plan to meet again with Seattle's Pat Gillick before the general mangers meetings end Thursday.

"We want to continue the discussions, but certainly not at the price that they're asking at this point," Bowden said. "We would not be willing to play at that level."

Griffey, eligible for free agency after next season, asked to be traded closer to his home in Orlando, Fla., and the Mariners said they will try to comply.

Griffey grew up in Cincinnati, where his dad was a star on the Big Red Machine of the 1970s and is currently a coach. The two played together in Seattle, where in 1990 they became the first father-son duo to start a game and to homer in the same game.

Bowden said the developments here don't mean the Reds are out of the picture.

"Things can change in a month or two months if they haven't traded him by then."

Bowden made it clear how big it would be if the Reds were to get Griffey.

"We'd love for him to come back home. His dad's our bench coach, he went to Moeller High School, his agent's a few miles from our stadium," Bowden said.

"One of the big reasons we want Ken Griffey is not just he's the best position player in all baseball, but the fact what he can do for the city of Cincinnati. After winning 96 games, you bring Griffey into the house, he might have the effect on Cincinnati that (Mark) McGwire had on St. Louis, or even more."

Bowden didn't blame Gillick for setting a high price. "If I were in his position, I'd be asking for a lot, too. You're talking about Ken Griffey Jr. These kinds of trade of take time."

Gillick has said the team has no timetable on a deal, other than he hopes it can be done before the start of spring training.

"I really can't say any more than we're continuing to talk," Gillick said. "We're optimistic and we had good dialogue with everyone."

One trade was consummated at the GM meetings Wednesday when Andy Ashby, a two-time All-Star who resurrected his career in San Diego, was traded to the Phillies for three pitchers in a cost-cutting move by the Padres.

The Padres received right-handers Carlton Loewer, Steve Montgomery and prospect Adam Eaton for Ashby.

Other trade rumors that were floating around Wednesday involved the Toronto Blue Jays. GM Gord Ash tried to dance away from them.

One rumor had right-hander Pat Hentgen, the 1996 AL Cy Young Award winner, going to St. Louis. "Nothing to report right now," Ash said.

Another involved the Detroit Tigers. "We've talked to a lot of clubs about pitching, yes," Ash said.

And David Wells? Rumors have circulated that he, too, is on the trade block.

"He's wearing No. 33 and pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays," Ash said.

"I'm sorry I don't have anything to tell you," he added.

The Blue Jays were involved in the biggest trade so far at these meetings when they sent Shawn Green to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday along with a minor league infielder for Raul Mondesi and reliever Pedro Borbon. The Dodgers then signed Green to an $84 million, six-year contract.