Gaffe or a Gaff?

Ramon Martinez hated to see longtime batterymate Mike Piazza go, and he isn’t looking forward to facing him.

But the pitcher and his Dodger teammates believe Friday night’s seven-player deal with the Florida Marlins may provide the struggling Dodgers just the jolt they need.

“I think it’s going to help the team and we should feel comfortable with it,” Martinez said. “I think the trade is very positive because you’re going to see a different attitude.

“The guys will play hard. They came from a World Series last year, and it can be this year too.”

Manager Bill Russell echoed that thought, saying, “We’re happy it was done, and we’re a better team. That’s the bottom line. These guys who are coming in here were part of a world championship team last year, and to get those kind of guys, you have to give up somebody.”

In the deal, which wasn’t finalized until late Friday night, the Dodgers sent Piazza and Todd Zeile to the Marlins for five players, including all-stars Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla and Charles Johnson. Los Angeles also got outfielder Jim Eisenreich and rookie right-hander Manuel Barrios.

“The Dodgers really overwhelmed me . . . the sincerity they showed in wanting me here,” Sheffield said. “I know those are big shoes of Mike’s to fill. Hopefully, we can all fill them.”

The Dodgers had lost nine of 12 to fall to three games under .500 and eight games behind NL West leader San Diego, and Russell said he knew something had to be done.

“We didn’t know it was going to be this drastic,” he said. ‘But, obviously, I’m looking forward to making out that lineup.”

Martinez, who pitched a no-hitter against the Marlins with Piazza behind the plate in 1995, acknowledges he’s sad to see him leave.

“I guess this is a part of this business; sooner or later you’re going to get traded, but I was kind of surprised that it was Mike,” Martinez said. “But we have to keep going forward, and he’s got to do it too.

“We really worked very well together and I appreciate what Mike has done for us. It’s a little sad, but it’s part of the business. Now we’ve got to face him, and that’s a concern.”

Martinez and the rest of the Dodgers may not face Piazza in a Florida uniform many times.

The Marlins are being sold by H. Wayne Huizenga to a group headed by Don Smiley. Smiley intends to further pare the payroll by $8 million, down to about $16 million, next year.

Piazza, who is making $8 million this year, becomes a free agent at the end of the season, so the Marlins will either deal him for prospects or let him go in the fall.

“As you might guess, we’re not in a position to extend Mike’s contract,” Florida General Manager Dave Dombrowski said. “He’ll do the best job he possibly can while he’s with us.”

A trade to the Angels, Baltimore, Colorado or the Yankees is a possibility. San Diego and the Chicago Cubs also might be short-term possibilities.

Sheffield had a no-trade clause in his Marlin contract, and thus had to approve the trade. After arriving in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon and talking with Fox Group--which bought the Dodgers from the O’Malley family two months ago--and team officials, Sheffield agreed to the deal.

He wanted concessions from the Dodgers since the tax bite on his six-year, $61-million contract was going to include California income state tax. Florida has no such tax. Sheffield’s agent, Jim Neader, said that concern was satisfied by the Dodgers, although he gave no details.

While the Marlins’ motive obviously was to continue slashing their payroll, money also figured in the Dodgers’ decision, since Piazza had been seeking a new contract believed to be for more than $100 million over seven seasons. They had offered him about $80 million for six years, which still would have been the richest contract in baseball history.

The players involved in the trade have guaranteed contracts calling for $98 million from 1998 through 2003, a record amount for players in one deal. Bonilla is a six-time all-star, and 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.