Quick Piazza Trade Surprises Claire

The Dodgers figured Mike Piazza wouldn’t be with the Florida Marlins for long after their trade, but they were surprised by the timing of his next move, to the New York Mets.

“I honestly didn’t think it would happen this quickly,” said Fred Claire, executive vice president. “The reason for that was it looked to me like a tough puzzle.

“You have a player who is going to generate a huge amount of interest, but a player who is not signed beyond this season. What changed it for the Marlins, in my opinion, was that the Mets stepped up with a hell of an offer with those players.”

*

Paul Konerko was recalled from triple-A Albuquerque as expected. Konerko dressed but didn’t play.

Struggling reliever Brad Clontz was optioned to Albuquerque to make room for Konerko on the 25-man roster.

Clontz (2-0, 5.66 ERA) started the season well after signing a one-year $325,000 contract April 9. He didn’t give up a hit in his first 11 2/3 innings, but he has been hit hard in May and struggled with his mechanics.

He took the demotion hard.

“I’m struggling with my release point, but everything goes in cycles,” said Clontz, who was released by the Atlanta Braves on March 25.

“With the way I started out, this just seems like a big slap in the face. I’ve proven I’m a major league pitcher, and now I have to prove it all over again. I’m upset about this, but I don’t pull the strings around here.”

Claire said the Dodgers will keep only 10 pitchers on the roster for now.

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Second baseman Eric Young didn’t play Friday because of the right thigh muscle injury he suffered in Thursday’s 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

RAMON MARTINEZ

(5-2, 3.18 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’

BRIAN ANDERSON

(1-5, 3.90 ERA)

Bank One Ballpark, 7 p.m.

TV--Channel 5. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--Martinez has won five of his last six decisions. He has pitched into the seventh inning in six of 10 starts.