Steinbrenner Denies Role in Trading Winfield

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner says that he not only had nothing to do with the trade of Dave Winfield to the Angels but that he “was not in favor of it.”

Winfield, citing his rights as a 10-and-5 player, has refused to report to the California Angels since the Yankees traded him for Mike Witt on Friday. Winfield maintains that the Yankees were required to secure his approval before trading him.

In a telephone conversation with Newsday, Steinbrenner took no responsibility for the trade.

“Believe me when I tell you I did not ask for this trade,” Steinbrenner said. “I wasn’t even in favor of it. I know no matter what I say I will be accused of being behind this trade, of interfering with baseball matters. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. But it was my manager, one of his coaches, the general manager and (Vice President George) Bradley who wanted to make this trade.

“I made it clear to them I was not in favor of it. I told them, ‘Fellas, if you want to stand up and take the heat for this deal, go ahead.’ One thing I said to them was, ‘It’s your deal.’ ”

When Steinbrenner was asked why he was not in favor of the trade, he said, “I don’t want to get into that.”

Steinbrenner, who has backed off on trying to trade Winfield to Detroit, Toronto and Houston in past years, said he told General Manager Pete Peterson to consult with Winfield before announcing the trade. “I told him, ‘Make sure you sit down and talk with Dave before doing this,’ ” Steinbrenner said.

The Yankees, however, did not consult with Winfield. After the Yankees and Angels agreed on the trade, he was pulled out of batting practice in Seattle and told about it by Bucky Dent.

Steinbrenner and Winfield met face to face for more than an hour Monday in the office of Winfield’s lawyer, Jeff Klein, but “there were no concrete proposals” toward resolving Winfield’s uncertain future, Klein said.

“He is a man without a country,” said Klein, who was present at the meeting along with David Sussman, general counsel for the New York Yankees.

“There was a direct, frank exchange of ideas and views. David and George spoke quite candidly about what has transpired the past few days and months. There were some very sharp opinions expressed but not at any time was anyone given to raising his voice. There was no need or place for that. I don’t want to get into the specifics that were discussed.”

Meanwhile, the arbitration hearing on the issue that was expected to take place Wednesday may be put off because the Players Assn. said neither Winfield nor the union has been officially notified of a trade. Gene Orza, associate general counsel for the Players Assn., said the union cannot arrange for a hearing until it officially learns of the trade.

Assuming that Winfield and the union receive official notification of the trade today, the hearing might still be arranged for Wednesday.

Technically, Winfield’s contract is under the control of the Angels although he is not officially on their roster because of his refusal to report. Peterson said the Yankees are retaining responsibility for Winfield’s paychecks until the trade matter is resolved.