Going, Going...Gone?

In a stunning trade that would complete Florida’s payroll purge, the Marlins were close to a deal Friday that would send Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla and Charles Johnson to Los Angeles for Mike Piazza.

In addition, the World Series champions would give up outfielder Jim Eisenreich and a player to be named, and the Dodgers would give Florida third baseman Todd Zeile.

In all, the players involved have guaranteed contracts calling for $98 million from 1998 through 2003, a record amount for players in one deal.

“We have an agreement in place,” Marlin General Manager Dave Dombrowski said. “It’s all contingent on Gary approving the deal.”

The outfielder, in the first season of a $61-million, six-year contract, has a no-trade clause.

Sheffield, who flew into Los Angeles from St. Louis late Friday afternoon, said he was optimistic that he could work out the final details to come to the Dodgers.

“We’re not that far apart,” Sheffield said at the airport before heading to Fox Television studios to discuss terms of his deal. “I’m kind of excited. I just want to get it over with. I’m coming in here with an open mind. I would be willing to accept it if the terms are right.”

A source close to the negotiations, speaking on the condition he not be identified, said Sheffield was reluctant to leave Florida, which has no state income tax, unless the Dodgers agree to increase his salary. He also wants the Dodgers to guarantee his contract’s $11-million option for 2004.

Sheffield’s publicist, Marvet Britto, said the outfielder was reluctant to leave his family in Florida but liked the idea of playing in Los Angeles. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native has two daughters in Florida, but the trade would move him closer to his 4-year-old son in Arizona.

“With the Dodgers, the endorsement opportunities would be absolutely great,” Britto said. “He would be a big fish in a big market.”

Florida, which got rid of 12 players from its World Series roster during the off-season, would lower its payroll to $24 million, down from $53 million at the end of 1997. Only two position players would remain from the starting lineup in Game 7 of the World Series: shortstop Edgar Renteria and second baseman Craig Counsell.

“There’s nothing to say. If it happens, you go,” Eisenreich said before Florida played at St. Louis on Friday night.

Piazza, completing a $15-million, two-year deal, clearly isn’t a long-term acquisition. The catcher is eligible for free agency after the season and the Marlins would either deal him for prospects or let him leave in the fall.

If the Marlins get him, a trade to Baltimore, Philadelphia, Colorado or the Yankees is a possibility. San Diego and the Chicago Cubs might also be short-term possibilities to get him.

The Marlins would eliminate $20.6 million in 1998 salary: Sheffield ($10 million), Bonilla ($5.9 million), Johnson ($3.3 million), and Eisenreich ($1.4 million). They would take on $11.2 million: Piazza ($8 million) and Zeile ($3.2 million).

If it goes through, the deal would be among baseball’s biggest. Bonilla is a six-time All-Star, while Piazza is a five-time selection. Sheffield is a three-time pick and Johnson, a three-time Gold Glove winner, appeared in his first All-Star game last season.

Terms for the trade were worked out between Chase Carey, chairman and chief executive office of Fox Television, and Marlin President Don Smiley. There were indications Johnson was the player the Dodgers most wanted, and that Florida insisted they take Sheffield too.

Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, had spoken with the Marlins about a possible trade for Piazza several weeks ago. The final structure of the deal was agreed upon after Carey and Smiley, who had been in discussions regarding Fox and SportsChannel Florida, turned their attention to the player trade.

According to a source, Claire got a call in his box from Dodger President Bob Graziano during the seventh inning of Thursday’s night game at Los Angeles, telling him that the deal was done. On Friday, Claire called Piazza--whom the Dodgers drafted in 1988--to tell him the final deal was put together without him.

Piazza broke off negotiations for a long-term deal with the Dodgers last month. The team was said to have offered about $80 million over six years, but the catcher is believed to be asking for more than $100 million over seven seasons.

“Throughout the negotiations, Mike and I always talked about the possibility of a trade,” said Piazza’s agent, Dan Lozano. “So we were not surprised by a trade. We were surprised it happened so soon.”

“There were a lot of reasons we could not complete an agreement with the Dodgers. Timing, very bad timing, had a lot to do with this,” he said. “But I think deep down, Mike always believed and hoped things would work out with the Dodgers.”

The Marlins, who are being sold by Wayne Huizenga to a group headed by Smiley, were 13-28 going into Friday, the second-worst record in the NL, ahead of only the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks. Smiley intends to cut the payroll more, down to about $16 million next year.

Moises Alou, Kevin Brown and Robb Nen were among those dealt during the off-season, and Sheffield recently complained about the stripped-down club, comparing it to the “Bad News Bears.”

The struggling Dodgers, who some believed are underachievers and others feel are overrated, were 19-21 after a 4-0 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday night--their eighth loss in 11 games.