TRADE: PRO

The Times has been overwhelmed with letters in response to the Dodger trade that sent catcher Mike Piazza to the Florida Marlins for five players. Here are some of the reactions:

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Dear Mike,

On behalf of all of the fans of Los Angeles, I would like to thank you for the thoughts expressed in your open letter. That was the epitome of class. I had only hoped that you and your agent would have shown the same modicum of class in your dealings with the Dodgers, which would have rendered your public relations campaign unnecessary.

GREGG S. GARFINKEL, Los Angeles

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Maybe Bob Graziano understands what many Dodger fans have known for the last few years: that the franchise player they had is not of championship quality.

Champions do not whine, make excuses or blame others. Champions don’t take their contract squabbles onto the field and into the clubhouse.

In my opinion, the Dodgers would have come out ahead if they had traded Piazza for Charles Johnson straight up (and saved money).

BOB CARLSON, Bakersfield

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I like Mike Piazza as much as any Dodger fan; however, it is a business. What were you thinking, Mike, when you rejected the Dodgers’ offer of $80 million? You would have been the highest-paid player in the game. That was your business decision. Mike, were you thinking of the emotional side of the game when you asked for $100 million? I think not. If you can make a business decision, so can the Dodgers.

MATT KERSTER, Redondo Beach

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Come on, Mike. Give us a break. You started it. It’s amazing how one interprets greed in others’ actions, but not their own.

JOE LA ROSA, Long Beach

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How many runners scored against the Dodgers after stealing second or third on Mike Piazza over the years? And how many of those runs contributed to Dodger losses?

Hello, Charles Johnson! You are a dream come true. You have no idea how good it feels for us fans to see the team smiling, laughing and having fun.

STEVE SMITH, Arcadia

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It’s such a shame that $80 million wasn’t enough and Los Angeles had to lose such a classy player--Todd Zeile.

CHUCK HILL, Van Nuys

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We are all disappointed that Mike Piazza was traded, but Jim Murray is off base [May 17]. He confuses statistics, tape-measure home runs and basketball theatrics with winning championships. For the true sports fan, the only happy ending is a championship. Ask Tiger Woods.

And there was no need to demean the incoming players; they all have rings, Jim. To them we say, “Welcome aboard, you make us a better team.”

Frankly, I thought Saturday night’s game was the most exciting event there since Kirk Gibson’s home run.

AL HEATHER, Irvine

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With all due respect to Jim Murray, his column was ludicrous. Calling the Mike Piazza trade “the No. 2 oops!” ever is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

Mike Piazza was part of the family? Whose family? Nobody in my family would have turned down $80 million. Nobody in my family is that greedy or that self-absorbed. The fact is, Jim, this trade is probably the No. 2 best trade of all time.

GENO M. APICELLA, Burbank

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Jim Murray compares the Piazza trade to the Babe Ruth trade. In other words, he’s comparing Piazza to Ruth. Automatically, the article falls short of credibility.

Of course fans care about icons and heroes, but ultimately they pay to see their team win. Players like Magic, Kareem, Gibson, Hershiser and Koufax became L.A. icons not because of stats, but because they won. Piazza is simply a monumentally talented loser.

NICHOLAS FOX, Los Angeles

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The Dodgers can be just as good a .500 team without Mike Piazza as they were with him.

ROBERT LEICHTER, Beverly Hills

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What the hell is wrong with everyone in Dodgertown? And I mean everyone, from the general manager all the way down to the fan and lowliest writer. You all just traded yourselves into contention!

Todd Zeile is a bum, I know, I’m a lifetime Cardinal fan.

And as for Piazza: How short are our memories? I thought Brett Butler was beyond reproach. Could he have been right about Piazza? And in return? What the hell is Ross Newhan talking about combustible? Chemistry? These guys just won a World Series.

R.G. BROWN, Venice

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I was at Dodger Stadium the night the trade was announced. I couldn’t help but notice all the “Piazza” jerseys: grown men, young girls, small children. My daughter has a “Piazza” jersey and “Piazza” key chain, and would often show up at games with No. 31 painted on her face. She was trembling so much she couldn’t speak.

The Dodgers apparently offered you $13 million per year and you asked for $15 million. You may ultimately find some team, such as New York, Baltimore or Arizona, to pay it. But in those towns you will never be anything but another mercenary willing to sell your bat to the highest bidder. The Dodgers didn’t just offer you $13 million; they offered you $13 million plus the love of an entire city. It’s too bad that had no value to you.

ANTHONY CIASULLI, Sherman Oaks

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Do Mike Piazza and Jody Reed have the same agent?

KEITH H. KARPE, San Clemente