Sheffield Feels Badly Betrayed

Florida Marlin slugger Gary Sheffield claims he would have restructured his $61 million contract to keep the World Series champions together after last season.

He compares this year’s Marlins to the “Bad News Bears,” but the Tampa native adds he would not approve a trade unless it was to Atlanta or to the Devil Rays.

“I would have done whatever it would have taken,” Sheffield said after yet another loss Monday night--this time to Arizona.

“They could have redone [the contract] anyway, and I would have taken less this year and more later just to keep us together, and to give us a chance to defend the World Series,” he said.

Sheffield said the Marlins never came to him to restructure his contract. The right fielder says he is unmotivated with the current team after trades of such players as pitcher Kevin Brown and Moises Alou.

The Marlins were 5-14 heading into Tuesday night and were still projecting a $10 million loss this season.

“I’m giving it 100%, just like I have always done,” Sheffield said. “But it is hard to motivate yourself with a team like this. People look at this team like we are the Bad News Bears--even before we walk on the field.”

Marlin General Manager Dave Dombrowski heard Sheffield’s comments on ESPN. No one was happy that the Marlins traded off big-name players to slash the payroll, Dombrowski said.

“Anyone who is not motivated and doesn’t want to work hard, whether it be me or the trainer Larry Starr, should just quit and go home,” said Dombrowski, who did not mention Sheffield’s name.

“I’ll quit and go home, if they just send the checks to my house. I’ll quit if they pay me,” Sheffield said.

Sheffield has a no-trade clause in his contract and must approve any deal. The New York Mets were the only team close to making a deal for him this winter, but Sheffield said Monday that he wouldn’t go to New York.

“The only place I will go is to Tampa Bay, because that’s home, or to Atlanta, because I have a lot of family there,” Sheffield said.

And if he’s not traded?

“Then I’ll stay here until I rot. I’ll stay right here and play six years and then go home.”