Distressed Madlock Asks the Dodgers to Trade Him

Veteran Dodger third baseman Bill Madlock, angry over being benched the last three games because of a profound hitting slump, has asked Fred Claire, the team’s vice president, to trade him.

Claire, who met with Madlock before Sunday’s 8-6 Dodger win over the New York Mets, said that he will immediately work toward accommodating the four-time National League batting champion.

Madlock, 36, in the final year of a contract worth $850,000, was hitting only .186 after returning to the lineup earlier this month after arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder.

Manager Tom Lasorda has benched Madlock the last three games in favor of rookie Tracy Woodson, and Madlock said he had the indication that it would be a permanent change.

“I feel like the 24th man on the roster right now,” Madlock said. “I think it’s just better if they trade me. What I got to do now is get to my lawyer and see what he can do. I told Fred today, if I couldn’t play in a game like today’s, I’ll never play here.

“(Claire) said he’s going to try. What’s the difference if they trade me? They are going to play (Woodson) anyway. They aren’t going with me, that’s for sure.”

Madlock said he had asked for a trade before the winter meetings, but former vice president Al Campanis didn’t make a deal. “Even in December, I knew I wasn’t in their plans,” Madlock said. “In spring training, I felt the same way. I’m no good to them as a pinch-hitter. I think they should trade me.”

Said Claire: “He held his point firm in terms of his (trade) request. He knows his ability and he wants to play on a regular basis or certainly hit on a regular basis. I’ll be talking to Steve Greenberg (Madlock’s agent) tomorrow and discuss this more.

“We know Bill can hit and contribute. But he has a lot of credentials and wants to play in a different situation.”

It may be that Madlock will wind up with an American League team as a designated hitter. But both Madlock and Claire indicated that he won’t remain on the Dodgers for long.

Madlock’s defensive shortcoming is the main reason Woodson has replaced him. In 35 games, Woodson has one error. In 19 games, Madlock has three.

“I told (Claire), I don’t think third base is your defensive problem,” Madlock said. “I think you need to look other places (in the infield).”

Woodson, hitting .233 after Sunday’s game, is considered the best defensive third baseman in the Dodger organization. But Madlock, who came to the Dodgers in August of 1985 from Pittsburgh in the Sid Bream trade, is a proven hitter.

However, when Madlock approached Lasorda on Saturday and asked why he wasn’t playing, Lasorda said: “Because you’re not hitting.”

Madlock admits he is not hitting well, but he said that he needs to play regularly to break out of it. And he said he won’t get that with the Dodgers.

“They only gave me 40 at-bats (after the surgery) to prove myself,” he said. “They gave more than that to a rookie (Woodson) and another guy (Steve Sax) had over 100 at-bats to break out of a slump.”

Lasorda would not discuss the details of his meeting with Madlock on Saturday. But when told of Madlock’s desire to be traded, Lasorda said: “Everybody’s entitled to their wishes.”