|
|
|
|
 |
| ||
|
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Offseason moves Free Agents Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search MLB en espaņol Clubhouses | ||
|
SportsMall
| ||
| Sport Sections | ||
|
| ||
| Wednesday, February 21 | |||||
| Dodgers shopping Sheffield; White wants out | |||||
VERO BEACH, Fla. – Los Angeles Dodgers general manager
Kevin Malone seems optimistic that a deal can be worked out to trade
outfielder Gary Sheffield.
While the Dodgers claim that Sheffield has asked to be traded, the All-Star outfielder told ESPN's Peter Gammons that wasn't the case. "I never demanded a trade. I never asked to renogiate my contract," he told Gammons on Tuesday. "... they're using the media to portray me as a greedy ballplayer."
"I think there's enough interest (in Sheffield). We've had so many calls,"
Malone said Tuesday at the Dodgers' spring training camp. "A
player of Gary's abilities, who had an MVP-type season last year,
there's a lot of interest.
"It's just a matter of clubs figuring out at this late date how
to do it, who to give up and how to make the necessary proposals.
We'll see how it goes."
Sheffield told Gammons he will honor the remaining three years on his contract and report to camp on time, contrary to earlier reports that he would hold out.
Meanwhile, veteran Devon White, apparently unhappy that the Dodgers plan to use him as a fourth outfielder, arrived in camp Tuesday with his own request for a trade.
"I said to the group today it's very, very important that we go
West with a group of people who really want to be Dodgers," manager Jim Tracy said.
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that there has been buzz of a possible three-way blockbuster deal, in which the Chicago Cubs would send Sammy Sosa to the Mets for a prospect package headed by outfield prospect Alex Escobar and the Mets then would trade Sosa to the Dodgers for Sheffield.
That would enable the Mets to acquire Sheffield without giving up a regular, would extricate the rebuilding Cubs from the Sosa contract predicament and would give the Dodgers a replacement run producer of Sheffield's quality – plus a charismatic attendance lure for the area's large Latino community, according to the Times story.
The catch is that Sosa is eligible for free agency after the 2001 season and is seeking five or six years at $17 million or more per year, which is considerably more than the Dodgers still owe Sheffield and more, probably, than they are willing to commit, given their pitching obligations.
Sheffield, a six-time All-Star, is signed through the 2004 season. He said he's willing to stay with the Dodgers, while the Dodgers claim he asked for a trade to the Yankees, Mets or Braves.
Braves general manager John Schuerholz refused to comment
Tuesday. At least one Atlanta player wouldn't mind having Sheffield
as a teammate.
"I'd like to see him here," catcher Eddie Perez said. "He's
one of the best hitters in the league. You don't want him hitting
against you. You want him hitting on your team."
Malone already had offered Sheffield to the Mets for either Mike
Piazza or Edgardo Alfonzo, but Mets GM Steve Phillips said those
two players were virtually untouchable.
"I can't fathom a deal where I would trade either of those two
guys," Phillips said Monday. "Nobody is untouchable, but they are as close to untouchable as you can
get."
The Yankees didn't completely rule out a deal.
"I don't know if we can afford it with what we have right
now," owner George Steinbrenner said. "He's a good guy, but he
has a big contract."
Sheffield, 32, has been the Dodgers' best hitter since being
acquired from Florida in a 1998 deal for Piazza. The left fielder
hit .325 with 43 homers and 109 RBI last season.
He is due $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and $11
million in 2003. There's a team option for 2004 at $11 million.
While Sheffield now insists he didn't demand a trade, he had harsh words in a Los Angeles Times story.
"It's about the disrespect I've had to deal with since I came
here, " he told the Times. "Every year I hear
my name mentioned with some trade for some other star player.
"Why should I continue to perform the way I have for them if
I'm going to be dangled out there like that all the time?
Obviously, they don't appreciate me, so why not just send me
someplace where I will be appreciated?" he said.
Tracy did not want to talk about Sheffield's demands.
"As far as I'm concerned, that's still outside the lines," he said. "It's
really not a situation I want to discuss. Crises come
and go. You weather the storm, reset the sails and move on.
As for White, Tracy said he wanted to know whether White is
willing to accept his role with the team. The manager admitted that
White indicated otherwise during a conversation before spring
training.
Tom Goodwin, acquired from Colorado last season for Todd
Hollandsworth and two minor league players, probably will open the
season as the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter.
White, 38, will be difficult to trade because of his age,
salary and poor production at the plate last year. He is in the final season of a
three-year, $12.4 million contract. He played just 47 games last
year and suffered a partial tear to his left rotator cuff May 2.
"I asked what his mental outlook would be if the season were to
start on April 2 with him as the fourth outfielder," Tracy said.
"I don't think at that time he was mentally willing and able to
accept that. If in fact his frame of mind is such that he's not
going to be able to do that, then that's going to be a tough
situation, obviously."
White batted .266 with four homers, 13 RBI and three steals last
year after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder
following the 1999 season.
He batted .268 with 14 homers, 68 RBI and 19 steals in 134
games in 1999.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | ALSO SEE Agent: Sheffield still wants contract extension with Dodgers Sheffield: Trade talk came from Dodgers Dodgers' Brown has irregular heartbeat checked as precaution AUDIO/VIDEO  Gary Sheffield gives his side of his dispute with the Dodgers.wav: 665 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Gary Sheffield puts some rumors to rest.wav: 950 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Will Gary Sheffield suit up for the Dodgers again? Sheffield says yes.wav: 470 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Dodgers official Derrick Hall says there has been some serious interest in Gary Sheffield.wav: 194 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 GM Steve Phillips can not imagine the Mets dealing for Gary Sheffield.wav: 174 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 What are the consequences of the ARod contract? ESPN's Jayson Stark says the league is starting to feel them.wav: 603 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | ||||