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Will work for trade Sheffield willing to defer salary to expedite deal
Updated: Wednesday March 07, 2001 9:03 PM
VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Riding a golf cart past the Florida Marlins clubhouse before Wednesday's spring training game, a grinning Gary Sheffield stretched out his arms in mock desperation. "I miss you guys!" he shouted. "Please help me! Please help me!" In his five years as a Marlin, Sheffield alienated fans, feuded with the general manager and often complained about the organization. But those days seem serene compared with what he's going through now. The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger has demanded a contract extension or a trade, leaving him in limbo at the start of spring training. Los Angeles has rejected the contract demand and tried unsuccessfully to swing a deal with the New York Mets, New York Yankees or Atlanta Braves. So on Wednesday, Sheffield told general manager Kevin Malone he would like to go to one of six other teams -- St. Louis, Cincinnati, the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay, Kansas City or Texas. To make a trade more palatable, Sheffield said he would be willing to reduce his $10 million salary by half, with payment of the other $5 million deferred. "I want to be wherever who wants me," said Sheffield, the grammar garbled but the message clear. "If I'm wearing another uniform, I'll get my juices flowing again to where I'm real upbeat all the time. Right now it's hard to get real enthusiastic about getting out here and playing. I have to remind myself every day to be professional." Sheffield went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to Florida. He hit .325 last year with 43 home runs and 109 RBIs, but there are now scattered boos from Dodgers fans each time he makes an out. "That's crazy, man," said Marlins pitcher Ryan Dempster, who retired Sheffield in the first inning. "But I guess you've got to pick and choose your words." Sheffield, 32, is under contract through 2004. His demand for what he terms a lifetime deal has made him difficult to trade and difficult to keep. "I just want to have the best team possible," general manager Kevin Malone said. "At this point the Los Angeles Dodgers' best team would include Gary Sheffield. That could change, but at this point I'm not planning to trade Gary Sheffield until the Dodgers can get fair value in return." A return to the Marlins is out of the question, although Sheffield said he has fond memories of his turbulent stay in Miami. He joined the franchise during its first year, endured four losing seasons before helping the Marlins win the 1997 World Series, then became part of their dismantling when he was traded to the Dodgers the following spring. "Miami is a great place to play," he said. "I had a lot of fun there. That's going to go down as the most fun time in my career." General manager Dave Dombrowski has ruled out reacquiring Sheffield. The rebuilding, budget-conscious Marlins are not in a position to spend heavily on veterans. But Sheffield believes his former team, now made up of low-priced but improving young players, is closing in on title contention. "I think they're one veteran away," he said. "If they get one more veteran, I think they'll go all the way." Might that veteran be a certain right-handed, power-hitting outfielder? "Yeah," Sheffield said, smiling as he stroked the hair on his chin. "With a goatee."
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