Piazza’s on the Road Again

The New York Mets, with the success of the cross-town Yankees adding insult to an array of injuries, dealt for the star power of Mike Piazza on Friday, trading three prospects to the Florida Marlins for the former Dodger catcher.

The trade came only a week after Piazza and Todd Zeile had gone to the Marlins as part of a seven-player deal considered the biggest in baseball history, but it was no surprise when the Marlins, continuing to reduce their payroll after winning the World Series last year, turned around and traded Piazza, who makes $8 million this year.

“I’ve gone from a player who thought he would spend his whole career with one organization to a player who’s been with three organizations in a week,” Piazza said by phone from Florida. “I’m in shock, but I’m also very excited to be going to New York. It’s obvious their offense has had some problems this year, but I hope to step in and help as soon as possible.”

Piazza is expected to be in uniform against the Milwaukee Brewers today. It isn’t certain whether the Mets are merely renting Piazza, who is eligible for free agency when the season ends, or will try to sign him to a long-term contract.

However, General Manager Steve Phillips will meet with Piazza’s agent, Dan Lozano, in Florida on Tuesday, and co-owner Fred Wilpon, when asked if he was scared by Piazza’s desire for a seven-year $105-million deal, said:

“He wouldn’t be here if we were. It’s not my job to negotiate, but we know the range of these things. We want Mike here for the long term.”

In fact, Wilpon and partner Nelson Doubleday are believed to have insisted on the trade, overriding Phillips’ doubts.

Earlier in the week, Phillips had told catcher Todd Hundley, who is expected to return in the second half from elbow reconstruction, that he wasn’t going to trade for Piazza because “he didn’t want to duplicate a strength” by adding another offensive catcher. Then, of course, he had to phone Hundley back and say he was trading for Piazza.

The general manager insisted Friday that he and the owners weren’t at odds, that he opted to make the Piazza deal when some other trade negotiations fell apart.

“I’ve known all along how [ownership] felt about acquiring a marquee player,” Phillips said. “It’s not a change in plan; the timing seemed to make sense to us, and we’re ecstatic. Piazza brings instant credibility to our lineup.”

He also brings a potential traffic jam behind the plate.

Hundley said he endorsed Piazza’s acquisition because “it makes us a better team, but where do we both play if we’re in the lineup together? They made the trade. They have to decide.”

Piazza exhibited no interest in first base while a Dodger and said Friday he would be a liability if forced to make the move during the season without any experience.

The Mets have put 10 players on the disabled list in the first two months of the season and are struggling to keep wild-card hopes alive as the Atlanta Braves waltz through the National League East.

They had previously taken advantage of the Marlins’ fire sale to acquire Al Leiter and Dennis Cook, giving up top prospects.

In this deal, they traded infielder/outfielder Preston Wilson, stepson of former Met star and current coach, Mookie Wilson, and two of their top young pitchers: Ed Yarnell, a third-round draft choice in 1996 who was 7-0 at double A this year, and Geoff Goetz, their top pick last year.

“I know that Florida feels it acquired three real good prospects,” said Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi, who added that he had several general conversations with the Marlins but never made a definitive offer.

“Taking into account [Piazza’s] impending free agency and the money required to keep him out of free agency, plus what the Marlins’ requirements were in regard to young players, we didn’t think it was a good match,” Bavasi said.

Florida sources said that as many as eight teams were in the hunt for Piazza, with the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles probably the most serious, in addition to the Mets, who will receive two draft choices as compensation if Piazza leaves as a free agent.

“We’ll have had his services for 1998, and we’re prepared to take that risk,” Phillips said.

Piazza said it is much too soon to speculate on his future.

“I just want get in one place for more than a week and settle down,” he said. “This has been bizarre. It’s like rotisserie baseball. I don’t know whether to pack a couple of suitcases or an overnight bag.”

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A Short Fishing Trip

Mike Piazza’s career with the Florida Marlins:

DAYS: 7

Games: 5

SALARY: $309,392

AT-BATS: 18

HITS: 5

BATTING AVG.: 278

HOME RUNS: 0

RUNS BATTED IN: 4

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Mike Piazza’s week at a glance:

May 15: Traded to Florida

May 16: Joins Marlins in St. Louis. Sacrifice fly as a pinch-hitter.

May 17: Starts, drives in Marlins’ first run in 13-4 loss to Cardinals.

May 18: Two-run triple sparks Marlins’ 7-3 victory. Leaves St. Louis for Miami.

May 19: Off day.

May 20: First home game with Marlins.

May 21: Commits error, goes 1 for 4.

May 22: Traded to the Mets.

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On the Move

Shortest midseason tenures (had to play at least one game with team):

6 DAYS--Babe Dahlgren (traded from Cubs to St. Louis Browns on May 13, 1942; traded May 19, 1942, by Browns to Cubs, who then immediately traded him to Brooklyn).

7 DAYS--Mike Piazza (traded from Dodgers to Florida on May 15, 1998; traded by Florida to N.Y. Mets on May 22, 1998).

8 DAYS--Mike Kilkenny (traded by Detroit to Oakland on May 9, 1972; traded by Oakland to San Diego on May 17, 1972).

8 DAYS--Eric McNair (traded by Detroit to Washington on July 17, 1942; traded by Washington to Philadelphia on July 25, 1942).

9 DAYS--Wayne Causey (traded by Chicago White Sox to Angels on July 20, 1968; traded by Angels to Atlanta on July 29, 1968).

9 DAYS--Dave Kingman (traded by San Diego to Angels on Sept. 6, 1977; traded by Angels to New York Yankees on Sept. 15, 1977).

Research: Houston Mitchell / Los Angeles Times

* VIEWPOINT LETTERS: Fans don’t understand and most don’t agree with Dodger deal. C7