HENDERSON HOPING FOR NEW HOME.

Byline: San Francisco Chronicle 

Rickey Henderson can't believe it's come to this. He knows he was baseball's greatest leadoff man ever, he believes he's still the best at 38, and he can't even find a home.

The San Diego Padres have relegated him to role-player status and he has demanded a trade. A deal seems likely, probably with Cleveland, Texas or Seattle, and Henderson expects it to happen this week.

``I'm just waiting in the weeds,'' he said Wednesday during the Padres' 3-1 victory over the A's in a split-squad game. ``It doesn't matter where I end up. Some teams want me, but it depends what (the Padres) want. They're not going to just give me away.''

Henderson was always crackling with edgy energy, whether he was stealing bases on his way to the career record, now up to 1,186, or just mouthing off. He's always had a knack for sharp-minded, fresh remarks, and now that he's achieved elder-statesman status, his words demand attention.

On fellow star Barry Bonds: ``He's just got to take into consideration people on his team,'' Henderson told the San Diego Union-Tribune last week. ``Sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself to win, and he's got to realize he's got to do some things differently to pull his team together.

``I think maybe in a way Barry is not making his teammates feel as comfortable as he should. He's not making his teammates feel they are on the same page. That's my observation of what winning is.''

On manager Tony La Russa's performance two years ago late in his final season with the A's, a year when the A's finished in last place: ``He stopped managing,'' Henderson said Wednesday.

On the A's lack of interest in having him come back one more time, to finish his career in the city where he was born: ``I can't say whether it hurt or anything. I ain't going to beg nobody. . . . The only thing I care about is they say I'm a bad influence in the clubhouse. I laugh when I heard that. . . . When it comes to chemistry, where I go, they win.''

On his future in the game: ``It ain't the last year for me. I've got too much I want to achieve. . . . I don't really see a young guy who can outplay me. (Cleveland outfielder) Kenny Lofton can't outplay me.''

The A's are not going to deal for Henderson, so the only way he could return is if the Padres release him and the A's could claim him for almost nothing.

``We're trying to find him a home,'' Padres general manager Kevin Towers said Wednesday. ``We'd have a hard time releasing him. . . . The big thing is, Rickey believes - and I even believe - he's better than a fourth outfielder. He's an everyday guy. It hurts me to know it. We're going to miss Rickey Henderson.''

Henderson, fourth among active players with a .406 career on-base percentage, is in the second year of a two-year, $4 million contract, but he made $1.23 million in incentives last year based on plate appearances. This year, he's set to make $5,000 for every plate appearance from 300 to 600, potentially $1.5 million. The Padres are willing to pay some or all of the incentive money to make a trade easier for another club to swallow.

Seattle might end up with Henderson, although both the Mariners and Towers deny it. Henderson would love to go there - and Seattle could use an experienced leadoff hitter in front of Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner. ``They're missing a piece of the puzzle and I'm that piece,'' he said.

The Mariners say they'll use rookie outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. to lead off, but that's probably a bargaining ploy. Henderson fits too well for them not to consider him seriously. With him they become many people's choice to go to the World Series.