Stars trade rumors fly

Steve Guiremand

Friday, July 30, 1999 | 9:41 a.m.

Trade rumors involving several Las Vegas Stars continue to heat up as major league baseball's Saturday night trade deadline approaches.

A San Diego radio station reported Thursday that the San Diego Padres were going to trade Stars lefty Heath Murray, Padres third baseman and ex-Star George Arias, Stars center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. and a double-A pitcher to the Montreal Expos for catcher Brad Fulmer and third baseman Shane Andrews.

Not so, according to San Diego general manager Kevin Towers.

"I don't know where they get that stuff," Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "It's amazing ... no truth."

Murray, who was recently sent back to Las Vegas to build back up his endurance just in case he might have to replace sore-armed Brian Boehringer in the Padres' rotation soon, said he was aware of the trade rumors circulating about him.

"I've been part of that since I was at double-A in '95," Murray said. "If it happens, it happens. Sometimes it might not be such a bad thing."

Matthews said he was unaware his name was being mentioned in trade talks.

"That's the first time I've heard it," he said. "But that's part of the game. If I end up going somewhere else, I've just got to go out and give 100 percent like I'm doing here. But it would be great to play in San Diego every day one day."

Although the Padres have been rumored to be making a big push for Colorado third baseman Vinny Castilla, Towers said "nothing is real close. There are a few deals that might make sense, but there's nothing imminent. The closer we get to Saturday, the better chance there is of something happening."

Towers said he wasn't interested in making a deal just to bring in help for the stretch run.

"Any deal we might do would be one to help us this season and in the future," he said.

* DARR HURTS BACK: Rightfielder Mike Darr's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth rallied the Stars to a 5-4 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs on Thursday night at Cashman Field, snapping a four-game losing streak for Las Vegas (46-58).

But Darr was hardly in the celebrating mood afterward.

"My back locked up on me," he said grimacing. "When I got to the batters' box, I could feel it tighten up."

Darr has been plagued by back problems the past few years. He winced noticeably after a swing on his game-winning at-bat but stayed in the game and bounced his game-winner to center off Zephyrs' reliever Jeff McCurry.

"Hopefully a little ice will make it better," Darr said. "We'll just have to wait and see how it feels tomorrow. But right now it feels very tight."

"He's a player," Stars manager Mike Ramsey said. "I didn't know he was hurt until after the game. He's been making some good swings. That was a big at-bat for him and us."

* GIOVANOLA RETURNING? Both Jim Leyritz and Chris Gomez ended their two-day injury rehab assignments with the Stars on Thursday night and are expected to be activated by the San Diego Padres before tonight's game against Houston at Qualcomm Stadium.

That means at least one player will likely be sent down to the Stars. Speculation has been that utilityman Ed Giovanola, who still has minor league options left, will be that player. Reliever Carlos Almanzar is another possibility.

* GAME RECAP: After reliever Matt Whiteside blew a 3-2 lead by giving up two ninth-inning runs, the Stars rallied to pull out a 5-4 win over New Orleans (41-63) on Mike Darr's bases-loaded, two-run single with one out in the bottom of the ninth.

Stars starter Bryan Wolff hurled five perfect innings and allowed just three hits and two runs over seven innings but didn't figure in the decision.

Rico Rossy and pinch-hitter Wayne Kirby hit back-to-back homers in the seventh inning for Las Vegas.

* UP NEXT: The Stars conclude their series with New Orleans with a 7:05 p.m. game tonight at Cashman Field. Right-hander Buddy Carlyle (9-5, 4.82 ERA) will start for Las Vegas against Zephyrs right-hander Rob Ellis (5-8, 5.61). The Stars then open a four-game series with the Nashville Sounds on Saturday night at Cashman Field at 7:05 p.m. The Sounds are led by former Green Valley High star Chad Hermansen.