Piazza Deal Left Foul Taste

On the day the Fox Entertainment Group took its hands off day-to-day operation of the Dodgers, Chairman Peter Chernin tried to wash his hands of the worst move made on Fox’s watch--the disastrous trade of catcher Mike Piazza.

“That was originally suggested by [former general manager] Fred Claire,” Chernin said at a Thursday news conference to announce that former studio executive Robert Daly would be taking control of the team. “We were not dreaming up those things.”

Claire, who was fired by Fox a month after Piazza was dealt to the Florida Marlins in a seven-player deal, was outraged at that claim.

“For Peter Chernin to make that statement is totally unfair, totally uncalled for and totally inaccurate,” Claire said. “And you can underline all of those things. It is very upsetting to hear something like that by Peter Chernin.

“I think the fans understand. I know they do. I never did anything that I would not take responsibility for. If I had made that trade, I would take responsibility for it. That does not show me much at all. It disappoints me, surprises me that Peter would make such a statement. He should know better.”

The Piazza deal, made after the superstar catcher and the Dodgers couldn’t agree on a new contract, was the first of many moves made under the ownership of the news and entertainment giant that failed to improve the team while leaving its fans disgruntled and disgusted.

The Piazza trade was not only a public-relations problem--losing the team’s most popular player and one of the best ever to wear a Dodger uniform--but, like several other questionable moves, it failed to improve the team on the field.

The Dodgers received five players from the Marlins for Piazza and third baseman Todd Zeile. Of those five, only one, left fielder Gary Sheffield, remains with the club.

Under Fox, the Dodgers also:

* Traded outfielder Roger Cedeno to the New York Mets for catcher Todd Hundley. Cedeno hit .314 for the Mets this season and stole 66 bases, second best in the National League. Hundley turned out to be damaged goods, unable to regain the form he had before undergoing elbow surgery after the 1997 season.

* Signed pitcher Kevin Brown to a $105-million contract, giving a pitcher the kind of money that Piazza, an everyday player, was refused.

* Traded for pitcher Carlos Perez and gave him a three-year, $15.6-million contract only to have Perez end up in the minors at the end of this season.

Fox also was accused of stomping on Dodger tradition.

“We were criticized for everything from the music that was played to the caps that were worn,” Chernin said. “It is a little bit of naivete to think that Fox would be involved in all that, but so be it.”

But there can be no question that Fox was involved in the Piazza deal.

Claire said Marlin General Manager Dave Dombrowski in April offered Sheffield and catcher Charles Johnson for Piazza and a young pitcher to be named. Claire said he informed his superiors but was never told to act on it.

Claire was told in May to come prepared with options on Piazza’s future to a meeting in the office of then-team president Bob Graziano. Also present would be Chernin.

But before that meeting, Claire, who had been Dodger general manager since 1987, received a call from Graziano, who was in the Dominican Republic at the time. Graziano informed Claire that a Piazza deal had been completed. Claire said the deal was made between Fox television executive Chase Carey and Don Smiley, then the prospective new owner of the Marlins.

Said Claire: “I told Bob Graziano, ‘There will be two announcements tonight. I don’t want the second to get in the way of the first. I will make an announcement concerning my status. You don’t need me.’ ”

Said Graziano: “I wish I were there to explain it to you better.”

Said Claire: “You are where you are.”

Claire was eventually convinced to stay on when it was learned Sheffield had a no-trade clause in his contract.

“I stayed for one reason,” Claire said, “because the Dodgers were involved in one of the biggest messes in baseball history. I stayed to help sign Sheffield, which I did, because at that point, there was no turning back.”

And would Claire, who has not found a new position in baseball, have any advice for Daly?

“He doesn’t need advice,” Claire said. “He will do very well. His ability as an executive has already been clearly proven. My advice to Fox is to do the thing I always did. Just take responsibility for your actions.”