"I'm having a good time," said Austin Kearnes when asked about playing in the minors. "The guys here are good dudes, and it probably was good for me to get away from the bad atmosphere that was in the Reds clubhouse." And Kearns wonders if maybe another organization might be good for him. "There comes a time when you want to get established with a team and play every day," he said. "Every time I'm with the Reds, they try to play four or five outfielders. You can't work your way out of any slump because they put you on the bench." When he was sent down before the Boston series last week, he asked about a trade and was told by General Manager Dan O'Brien there was no interest in him. "I called him on that because I've heard there is," Kearns said. "When Washington was in town, (Nationals GM) Jim Bowden told both Adam Dunn and me he continues to try to make trades for us." Bowden, though, has said that his phone calls to the Reds are not returned and his e-mails to the Reds are not answered. The Chicago Cubs have interest in Kearns, and when the Atlanta Braves were in town, manager Bobby Cox pointedly asked, "What's going on with Kearns and why is in Louisville? I sure like that kid." Kearns is hitting .346 with five doubles in 26 at-bats in Louisville. "I'm playing every day and hitting," he said. "As soon as I go back to Cincinnati, I won't play every day. They have the same situation ... too many outfielders. Sure, I'd like to be someplace where I can play every day."