Gibson Acknowledges His Trade Request : Baseball: Dodgers outfielder cites family problems, says he would like to play closer to his Michigan home.

Kirk Gibson has acknowledged for the first time that he wants the Los Angeles Dodgers to trade him, saying he wants to play closer to his Michigan home because of family problems unrelated to baseball.

The outfielder, who earlier refused to discuss the matter, said Wednesday in Los Angeles that he told Dodgers management that he probably would not re-sign when he becomes a free agent at the end of this season.

The reason, Gibson said, was because of personal problems. And that was where the matter stood until Sunday, Gibson insisted, despite published reports that he earlier had demanded to be traded.

“Not until Sunday,” Gibson said. “I officially demanded to get out of here during Sunday’s meeting.”

Two weeks ago, Gibson was the subject of stories saying he wanted to be traded to Detroit. He spent eight seasons with the Tigers before becoming a free agent and signing a three-year contract with the Dodgers on Feb. 1, 1988.

Gibson met with Dodgers Executive Vice President Fred Claire and Manager Tommy Lasorda to discuss his status with the team. But the closed-door meeting in Lasorda’s office turned into a shouting match that could be heard throughout the Dodgers’ clubhouse.

“One thing led to another,” Gibson said. “Fred snapped at me, I snapped at Fred, and then things just exploded.”

Aggravating the situation is the team’s efforts to move Gibson from left to center field.

“Some people think I’m selfish because I don’t feel I can play center field,” Gibson said. “I think I’ve proved what I’ll do for the team. I’ve played hurt. I’ve taken injections, undergone surgery. I’ve played different positions, batted in different spots in the order.

“I’ve done just about anything they’ve asked. But I don’t think I can play center field adequately.”

Gibson said the Dodgers spoke with him before trading Willie Randolph and moving Juan Samuel to second base. The trade left the Dodgers without a center fielder.

“I said I’d try,” Gibson said about changing positions. “I tried and now I think it’s too much for me and now suddenly I’m selfish?”

“I certainly don’t have anything against the Los Angeles Dodgers or the city of Los Angeles or the fans. I was never upset at the Dodgers or anyone else. All I have been is honest, about today, about tomorrow, about next year.

“It’s really not up to me at this point. As far as the future, or beyond this year, we’ll just have to wait. I’m under contract to the L.A. Dodgers, and I’ll fulfill that contract.”

Gibson said he spent the All-Star break “sitting at home.” Now, he said, “it’s back to business as usual. It’s ‘play ball’ and see what happens. I said what I had to say. They said what they had to say. Life goes on. That’s the best way to sum it up.”