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One-on-One Sheffield: It was never about money
Updated: Saturday March 03, 2001 12:47 AM
Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Gary Sheffield reported to spring training unhappy with his contract. Though he is not in the final year of his current deal, he said he went to the Dodgers' front office asking to restructure his contract so he could finish his career in L.A. The Dodgers then threatened to trade Sheffield, which was -- and still is -- fine with the slugger. CNN/Sports Illustrated's Laura Okmin sat down for an exclusive interview with Sheffield on Friday. Laura Okmin: Take me through the clubhouse, the first day you reported. The hurt feelings on your side and on your teammates' side. Gary Sheffield: Well, I wasn't hurt. I just took a deep breath and I knew once they heard what I had to say ... All I had to do is walk in there and tell the truth like a man, and you tell me what you think. The whole team understood me in like two minutes. Okmin: A lot of people are saying Alex Rodriguez's contract has opened up a Pandora's Box for the players. Some people are saying it is the agents who are pushing their clients. Sheffield: No, no. Not at all. The owners have the right to pay you whatever they want to. They don't have to pay you if they don't want to. That wasn't even my issue. I brought my issue to the Dodgers on Nov. 30, so A-Rod wasn't even signed by then. So that had nothing to do with it. I let them know that I wanted to be a lifetime Dodger -- I actually let them know that last September. Okmin: Was there a specific time when you heard a specific player saying something that made you say, "Man, this is really getting out of control and I need to start talking and letting them know what I wanted"?
Sheffield: Well, I knew how the media was going to paint it. They were going to go to the people that everyone around baseball thinks whatever they say is always right. Like [Mark] McGwire and all those guys. You know, their situation is totally different. They can easily go to the owner and say I want something and get it. It's different over here. I did the same thing here behind closed doors, I probably did it the same way he did it. He didn't do it through the media. I didn't do it through the media. And by me asking, "What's wrong with Gary Sheffield wanting to be a lifetime Dodger?" ... There's nothing wrong with it. Mr. [Bob] Daly [Dodgers' CEO] has a right to say yes or no. It is as simple as that. Okmin: How much did that hurt you, Gary? Mark McGwire has been openly critical of you and other players who have talked about trying to get new deals done. Sheffield: Well, Mark needs to worry about Mark McGwire, that's the bottom line. Yeah, we respect the other ballplayers, but when it comes to the off-the-field [issues], he needs to worry about Mark McGwire. Gary is not worried about what [McGwire] has, and he shouldn't be worried about what Gary has. Just like him saying he's going to retire if we go on strike, or if we strike for a little while, he'll come back. Well who decides if we strike for a long time or a little time? A lot of players determine if it is long or not. One day is too long for me. Okmin: If you don't get the answer you looking for, would you still be happy being a Dodger? Sheffield: Well, everybody is trying to make this a money thing. If you send me to another team, let's see what I ask for. I won't ask for nothing. I'll play under the same terms. So it is not Gary wants more money. Gary has money. What else do I need? I've done everything I can do in this game, and I am going to do more. It is just a matter of the respect factor from the organization, the way they tried to portray this whole situation. They were the ones that brought this to the media, not me. You know, I sat back and watched everybody take their shots. Gary sat back in peace. I just knew that wasn't true, so it didn't bother me. But when it comes down to it, when I see that little white ball, I'm going to hit that little white ball. Okmin: Even if you're in a Dodgers uniform? Sheffield: Regardless. I don't have to be happy to play here, but I would do my best. I would go out and give 100 percent. I owe that to my teammates. Okmin: You said you didn't want to be here, but here you are. How long do you think you'll be here? Sheffield: My numbers speak for themselves. Either you want me or you don't. I've been in other uniforms before. It didn't affect me then, it won't affect me now. Okmin: In your heart of hearts, where would like to be two or three months from now, and where do you think you'll be? Sheffield: I would like to be on a baseball field playing left field -- wherever. Period.
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