NEW YORK -- Robin Ventura says Ken Griffey Jr.'s value to the New York Mets depends on the price.

	Griffey

	Ventura

"To lose anybody, it obviously would be a detriment," the third baseman said Wednesday after joining teammate Rey Ordonez as an NL Gold Glove winner.

"It would just depend on what you have to trade to get him," Ventura said. "If you have to get rid of three or four of your really good players, it might not be a step forward."

Griffey has asked the Mariners to trade him to a team closer to his Florida home. While New York is a 2½-hour flight from Orlando, it's closer than Seattle is and the Mets' spring training base at Port St. Lucie is within driving distance.

Ordonez, second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo and pitcher Octavio Dotel have been mentioned in the trade rumors involving Griffey.

"I can play here or in France or in Japan," Ordonez said as his wife, Gloryann, translated. "Not in Cuba."

Ordonez, a Cuban defector, was upset Alfonzo didn't also win a Gold Glove, losing to Cincinnati's Pokey Reese.

"It was an injustice," Ordonez said. "Edgardo had an awesome year defensively. He really deserved that."

The Mets made just 68 errors, 13 fewer than the previous record low, set by the 1998 Baltimore Orioles. New York's infield had 33 errors, 12 fewer than the previous record, set by the '64 Orioles.

First baseman John Olerud and Ventura each had nine errors and Alfonzo five, none on grounders. Ordonez made just four errors, none after June 13.

"He's able to close ground better than anybody else," Ventura said. "He plays bad hops better than anybody else."

Ordonez returned the compliment to Ventura, who took over from Alfonzo at third.

"Playing with Robin, he covers more ground," Ordonez said. "He made the team stronger defensively."

Ventura worried whether Olerud, who became a free agent, would return next season.

"We had a lot of trips late at night where guys could talk," Ventura said. "We really want him to come back. To lose him, it wouldn't be good for us. He's just an easy presence. He's a big target with a big set of hands. Just throw it over there, and you're not worrying exactly where you put it."

Ventura, who hobbled a bit during the postseason, already had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

"I'm fine. I'm walking around," he said.