Marlins’ Sheffield Feels Betrayed

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

“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 after trading pitcher Kevin Brown and Moises Alou.

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.”

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A section of Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium above the broadcasting booths will be vacant this week while a deteriorated expansion joint is repaired.

A small gap opened Saturday in the concrete at the site of the rubberized joint in the fourth level of the 18-year-old stadium.

“There is no jeopardy to fans. Nothing is falling. This isn’t a Yankee Stadium situation,” said stadium general manager Jimmy Sacco.

Last week, a 500-pound joint fell into seats while Yankee Stadium was empty.