Sheffield Deal in the Works

The Dodgers and Oakland Athletics worked late into the night on Thursday, attempting to close a three-team trade with the Toronto Blue Jays that would send Gary Sheffield to Oakland and bring outfielder Jermaine Dye and closer Billy Koch to Los Angeles, baseball sources said.

Dodger General Manager Dan Evans and Oakland GM Billy Beane are expected to resume talks today in an attempt to finalize the blockbuster deal before baseball’s winter meetings in Boston next week.

Although parameters of the trade are still being negotiated, two baseball executives said the latest proposal would send Sheffield and pitchers Luke Prokopec and Mike Trombley to Oakland for Dye. The Blue Jays would receive pitcher Eric Gagne from the Dodgers for Koch, and the Athletics would also send at least one player to Toronto.

Sheffield, Dye and Koch are the primary players involved. The Dodgers are reluctant to trade Gagne under any scenario, but the Blue Jays are determined to acquire the Montreal native. But another Dodger could be substituted into the deal in his place.

Talks cooled early Thursday because of the complexity of the proposal, but reheated after a report--denied by both parties--that the New York Yankees had all but completed a multi-year deal with free-agent first baseman Jason Giambi.

Spurred by the possible departure of Giambi, Beane apparently refocused his efforts on acquiring Sheffield, considered one of the best right-handed hitters in baseball. The Dodgers’ reluctance to include Gagne as part of their package is another hurdle to completing a deal, sources said.

Contacted late Thursday at Dodger Stadium, Evans reiterated that he does not comment on trade speculation and declined comment on his talks with Beane. However, sources said that Evans, in between conducting interviews for a new scouting director, was busy discussing trade proposals.

Citing tampering rules, Beane also declined comment but added, “I always have some balls in the air.”

The Athletics envision Sheffield replacing the run production lost with Giambi, who is expected to receive $17 million a season from the Yankees.

Sheffield is owed almost $10 million in 2002 and $11.5 million in 2003. His contract contains a team option for $11 million in 2004.

The six-time all-star was upset with his contract and tried to force a trade in spring training, but recently told the Dodgers he accepts his situation and wants to remain with them. But team officials are still concerned, wondering whether his feelings might change again.

Trading Sheffield in the proposed three-team deal would enable the Dodgers to address one of their needs in the bullpen without creating a hole in the batting order. Sheffield told the Dodgers he would be open to playing for a contender, and sources said Oakland is among the organizations he admires. The Athletics are not among the 12 teams Sheffield has blocked in his partial no-trade clause.

The Dodgers would not need Sheffield’s approval to send him to Oakland, but there are other contract issues involved.

After next season, Sheffield could demand a trade as a player traded in the middle of a multi-year contract. But that would be an issue for Beane and agent Scott Boras to resolve at a later date.

Evans is considered to be in the driver’s seat, sources said, because Sheffield is under contract for three more seasons at a relatively cost-effective salary. Evans is under no pressure to trade Sheffield, 33, and Oakland is eager to acquire the 13-year veteran as part of its plan to add power to the lineup.

The Dodgers said they would have to be overwhelmed to consider trading Sheffield, and they are intrigued by the possibility of getting Koch and Dye.

Koch, who turns 27 on Dec. 14, is under contract for $2.35 million next season, which fits nicely into the Dodger budget.

The right-hander was 2-5 with a 4.80 earned-run average in 2001, but had 36 saves in 69 appearances and at least 31 saves in each of his three seasons. Acquiring a closer has topped Evans’ to-do list since he declined to exercise Jeff Shaw’s contract option, and Koch is available because the Blue Jays plan to use Kelvim Escobar as their closer.

Dye, who turns 28 on Jan. 28, is a Gold Glove outfielder and consistent run producer. The cleanup batter helped the Athletics earn the American League wild-card berth after being traded from Kansas City on July 25, batting .297 with 13 homers and 59 runs batted in during 61 games.

Dye had a salary of $3.8 million last season, could earn as much as $10 million in arbitration for 2002 and become a free agent after the season.

Proposed trades involving more than two teams rarely occur--especially those featuring players the caliber of Sheffield, Dye and Koch--but Beane has experience putting such deals together. He got Dye in a three-way deal and outfielder Johnny Damon in another.

Evans is working on other deals to fill the Dodgers’ need for a closer in case the three-team trade cannot be completed. However, sources said the clubs plan to push forward during the winter meetings, which end next Thursday, because the deal would provide what each club wants.

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Times Staff Writer Ross Newhan contributed to this story