Winfield Nearly Puts On Yankee Pinstripes to Make His Point

Dave Winfield considered playing for the New York Yankees against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday night in New York to emphasize his contention that he had the right to reject last Friday’s trade to the Angels for pitcher Mike Witt.

Despite getting the Major League Players Assn.’s approval for the idea, Winfield decided Tuesday afternoon not to play. He went to Yankee Stadium, but only to collect his bats and shoes so he could work out while his fate is being determined.

“His concern is playing baseball, and he may report to Yankee Stadium and play baseball for the Yankees tonight,” Winfield’s agent, Jeff Klein, said earlier Tuesday from his Manhattan office. “The man should be entitled to play for somebody. It’s patently unfair that he’s not allowed to play.”

Witt, who reported to the Yankees Sunday, has not been added to the club’s active roster. Similarly, Winfield is on the Angels’ 40-man roster but not the 25-man list. “I don’t think there’s ever been a case like this,” Klein said. “David, to some extent, remains a man without a country.”

Klein received a copy of the formal assignment of Winfield’s rights Tuesday and said certain requirements that had not been met could make the assignment invalid. Arbitrator George Nicolau is scheduled to hear the case today in New York, but the session probably will be postponed because of the delay in officially notifying Winfield and the players’ association of the trade. A ruling could be issued within a day after a hearing.

Despite several years of verbal sparring with Yankee owner George Steinbrenner--who had allegedly hired a known gambler, Howard Spira, to uncover information that would discredit Winfield and his charitable foundation--Winfield vetoed Friday’s trade, citing his right as a 10-and-five player.

That means he had spent at least 10 years in the majors, the last five with the same club. The Yankees contend that the trade is valid because of a clause in Winfield’s contract that required him to “designate in writing seven clubs to which the contract may be assigned without his prior written consent.”

Although Winfield, 38, didn’t play for the Yankees Tuesday, he might wear Yankee pinstripes again someday--and the Angels could lose Witt and get nothing in return.

“I’ve learned to say anything’s possible,” Klein said.

One possibility is that Nicolau will uphold Winfield’s right to veto the trade. Winfield will be satisfied that he proved his point and then join the Angels.

Klein indicated that Winfield, who owns a home in Beverly Hills, would look favorably on financial inducements from the Angels. One sweetener could be a contract extension; Winfield’s current 10-year contract expires after this season. Angel General Manager Mike Port has said he would be willing to discuss a new arrangement with Winfield, who missed last season because of back surgery but hit .322 with 25 home runs and 107 RBIs in 1988. He is hitting .213 in 61 at-bats this season.

For his career, Winfield, an outfielder, has a .287 average and is a .981 fielder.

“Be it today, next week or at the end of the month, David’s going to have to take a hard look at the Angels,” Klein said. “They’re a pretty strong organization. . . . None of this has anything to do with the California Angels. David had a conversation with Mr. (Gene) Autry Sunday and was very affected. The Angels’ interest in David seems sincere, and it’s a matter of whether we can get together and agree on something that’s good for everybody. He’s certainly flattered by the way Mike Port, (Senior Vice President) Dan O’Brien and Mr. Autry feel about him.

“David has numerable interests here in New York, such as his foundation, and endorsements that are tied to him staying in New York. Looking at those, it doesn’t make sense (for him to leave).”

Winfield met for more than an hour Monday with Steinbrenner, who apologized for the way the trade was handled, according to Klein. Steinbrenner also has been quoted as saying that he “did not ask for this trade.” He attributed the deal to George Bradley, the Yankees’ vice president for player personnel and development, and said he had told Harding Peterson, the Yankees’ general manager, to notify Winfield before announcing the deal.

Peterson said the Yankees hoped that arbitration would be avoided. Steinbrenner was unavailable for comment.

“Dave and I met with George (Monday) in my office, and we had a pretty frank exchange of ideas,” Klein said. “Dave expressed in very clear terms his dissatisfaction with the manner in which things were handled and said there was no excuse for the way he had been treated. George acknowledged that and apologized. George had his thoughts with regard to David, and it was a pretty frank exchange.

“It was an airing of views, that’s all. David could be playing for the Angels if things work out.”

Klein said he and Winfield are prepared to state their case today should the hearing be held.