Piazza’s Contract Deadline Imminent

It appears the Dodgers won’t meet all-star catcher Mike Piazza’s self-imposed Sunday deadline to agree on a multiyear contract extension, meaning they risk losing him in free agency after the season.

Piazza said previously he wouldn’t negotiate with the team during the season, and his agent, Dan Lozano of the Beverly Hills Sports Council, reaffirmed their position Monday while acknowledging it’s highly doubtful a deal will be completed.

“Yes, we’re sticking to what we’ve said all along,” Lozano said. “There are no hard feelings, but the Dodgers knew where we stood from the beginning.

“We’re not going to talk about this [publicly] anymore. Mike won’t discuss this in spring training, and definitely not during the season, because he doesn’t want this to become a distraction for the team. Mike just wants to concentrate on helping the Dodgers win games.”

Dodger Executive Vice President Fred Claire declined comment on the status of negotiations or possible obstacles to reaching an agreement, which could make Piazza the game’s highest-paid player.

“The goal of the Dodger organization is to sign Mike Piazza, and we will work very hard to accomplish that,” Claire said. “Mike is very important to the Dodgers, and we’ve shown our commitment to retain our key players.”

Securing the nucleus of their roster to multiyear deals topped the team’s list of off-season priorities. The Dodgers recently gave outfielder Raul Mondesi the richest deal in team history, signing him to a four-year, $36-million contract that could become a six-year, $60-million package if the club exercises two option years.

That came on the heels of a four-year, $18-million deal given to second baseman Eric Young. The Dodgers also signed free-agent shortstop Jose Vizcaino to a three-year, $9.5-million deal.

Piazza, though, is clearly the main piece to the puzzle.

He’s in the final year of a two-year, $15-million contract that will pay him $8 million this season. Piazza would likely be the biggest prize of the next free-agent class.

The five-time all-star is coming off his best season, hitting .362 with 40 home runs and 120 runs batted in. And for the second consecutive season, Piazza, 29, was the runner-up in National League most-valuable-player award voting.

Piazza is in Florida preparing for spring training, which begins Friday when pitchers and catchers report to Vero Beach. While reaching an agreement with Piazza is clearly important, Claire said the situation shouldn’t overshadow the bigger picture.

“I want the focus of the team to be on this season and the task at hand,” Claire said. “That’s what everyone should be concentrating on.”

Said Lozano: “I totally agree with Fred, and I know that Mike’s focus is always on the team.”

When Piazza issued his deadline in October, he was believed to be seeking a seven- or eight-year contract that would pay him an average of $13 million to $15 million annually. But the price may have been pushed higher by the Boston Red Sox’s signing of pitcher Pedro Martinez to a five-year deal that pays him $12.5 million annually. Moreover, Piazza’s desire to make this possibly his final contract could also affect negotiations.

Lozano won’t comment on the deal Piazza is seeking. However, baseball sources speculate that Piazza could become the game’s first $100-million player.

“Mike hasn’t put any demands on anyone,” Lozano said. “Mike just wants to receive what’s fair for what he’s brought to the game.”

Lozano said Piazza’s situation won’t affect his play.

“Mike Piazza is a consummate professional, and he cares a great deal about the performance he gives the fans,” Lozano said. “He’s not even thinking about this anymore, he’s thinking about the season.”