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'Tell it like it is' Sheffield to speak his mind if not dealt by Tuesday
Updated: Sunday March 04, 2001 1:43 AM
VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Disgruntled Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Gary Sheffield says while he hasn't issued a deadline to be traded, he'll have more to say Tuesday if a deal hasn't been made by then. The Dodgers hadn't commented on the situation for nearly a week, but senior vice president Tom Lasorda, a Hall of Famer who managed the team from 1977-96, had some harsh words in an interview with Fox Sports Net on Friday. "What upsets me is the fact that I believe that when you sign a contract of your own free will, nobody put a gun to your head, and nobody put a gun to their head, you have to fulfill that commitment of responsibility," Lasorda said. "You're buying security. "I just don't like someone who complains after they sign their contract. If he had two bad years, how would he have liked it if somebody called him in and said, `Hey, we want to cut you?' It's just not right." Under contract for the next three seasons for a total of $30 million with a club option for 2004 at $11 million, Sheffield asked the Dodgers for a contract extension last month. He reiterated his desire for such a deal Wednesday. If he doesn't get an extension, Sheffield said he wants to be traded, preferably to the New York Mets, New York Yankees or Atlanta Braves. "I've got something that's going on Tuesday, it's not something that's going to damage this organization," Sheffield said. "I won't say anything negative, I'm just going to speak the truth. "Let's put it this way -- they won't be able to hide behind the paper and pen anymore. The longer it goes, my stand is just getting tougher. As far as Tuesday, something's going to give. I'm going to tell it like it is." Lasorda said the Dodgers wouldn't respond to an ultimatum. "What's he going to do? He can either play or go home. That's up to him," Lasorda said, adding that if the Dodgers give into Sheffield's request, "You're going to have players all over the major leagues doing the same thing." Sheffield said he hasn't been approached by the Dodgers to discuss the matter. "I'm not trying to make it a difficult situation," he said. "There's nothing new. I'm not going to put deadlines on what they can do. When people say deadlines, that's speculation. "I'm just going to do my work, play hard when they put me in games." Meanwhile, first-year Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said Sheffield won't play until Sunday against Baltimore. "You'll have to ask them," Sheffield said when asked why he wouldn't play Friday or Saturday, when the Dodgers travel to nearby Port St. Lucie to face the Mets. "I'm ready to play any time. I came ready. I came in shape." Dodgers chairman Bob Daly refused to comment on Sheffield's latest remarks. The 32-year-old Sheffield, a six-time All-Star who hit .325 with 43 homers and 109 RBIs last season, was critical of Daly after the two met last month. "He set out to bury me," Sheffield said. "To make himself and his organization look good, he said, `I'm going to bury you.' That's why it isn't going to work in LA. Too many bridges have been burned."
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