He was almost sold to the Yankees but Bowie Kuhn vetoed the deal, along with one that would have sent Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers to Boston.
Finley needed the money to replace the players he knew were leaving in this new impending free agency.
When Vida Blue nearly became a Cincinnati Red
https://www.redlegnation.com/2016/02/01/when-vida-blue-nearly-became-a-cincinnati-red/