|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Mets turn down deal for Sheffield
Updated: Tuesday February 20, 2001 1:56 AM
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- The New York Mets rejected an offer Monday from the Los Angeles Dodgers to trade Gary Sheffield for Mike Piazza or Edgardo Alfonzo. "If they're going to trade Gary Sheffield, then they are going to have to replace his offense and are looking for someone with ready major league talent," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. Sheffield, an outfielder, wants out of Los Angeles, which refused to extend his contract. He is owed $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and $11 million in 2003, with a team option for 2004 at $11 million the final part of the contract. Phillips said Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone wanted either Piazza, the Dodgers' former catcher, included in the deal or Alfonzo, a second baseman who is the Mets' second-best hitter behind Piazza. "I can't fathom a deal where I would trade either of those two guys," Phillips said. "Nobody is untouchable but they are as close to untouchable as you can get." Sheffield said he wants to be traded to either the Mets, the New York Yankees or Atlanta. Phillips said he first spoke to Malone about Sheffield on Sunday night. "It does not sound to me like there can be any deal," Phillips said. "We've not made a proposal." According to Phillips, the Dodgers weren't interested in any other players the Mets could have offered for Sheffield. They also didn't want any prospects. "If you make a hole in your team at this time of year, you need to fill it, and there's no where to go to do that," Phillips said. "I wouldn't consider any trade right now that would do that to our team." Mets manager Bobby Valentine didn't think about the prospect of acquiring Sheffield, who hit .325 last season with 43 homers and 109 RBIs. "Why wasn't this a wintertime matter," Valentine said. "I thought this is a strange thing."
| ||||||||||||||||||||
