Dodgers Wanting It Straight From A’s

The Dodgers moved Tuesday to determine whether the Oakland Athletics plan to trade for all-star outfielder Gary Sheffield or go in another direction, sources said at the winter meetings.

Dodger General Manager Dan Evans initiated a late meeting with Oakland counterpart Billy Beane after the sides failed to reach an agreement in two earlier negotiating sessions. Evans, sources said, has been considering numerous other proposals to bolster the club and sought answers about Beane’s interest in a deal that has been on the table for weeks.

“We talked to nine clubs today,” Evans said after his third session with Beane. “Nothing took place today that would indicate to us that our discussions with any of those teams are done. I never like to talk about the status of negotiations, but I would classify them as still ongoing.”

Evans and Beane left the lobby of the teams’ hotel at about 11 p.m. EST, resumed negotiations and had another long exchange. The Dodgers want to finalize a trade that would send Sheffield and pitchers Luke Prokopec and Mike Trombley to Oakland for closer Billy Koch, Gold Glove outfielder Jermaine Dye and a prospect.

But is Oakland still on board?

“We were aggressive [in trade discussions before the meetings] and had a number of things going on,” Beane said in a break between talks. “Now, we’ve decided that it would be wise to step back and see if we have more than one or two options.

“We made a deal for Koch. We filled that role. We’re now realizing that there may be other opportunities than the one we initially investigated. We want to make sure that the next move we make is calculated.”

Evans hopes to re-sign starter Chan Ho Park, sign setup man Dave Weathers and acquire shortstop Neifi Perez of the Kansas City Royals, among other goals, and waiting on Beane has delayed completion of his agenda. But Beane has a long to-do list as well.

Although Evans has said he has no deadline to accomplish his objectives and would not shut any doors, the Dodgers are eager to move forward with or without the Athletics. They have many holes to fill and cannot wait indefinitely, though the deal with Oakland is by far their best available option to trade the mercurial Sheffield and acquire a proven closer.

Beane considers Sheffield his top choice to replace free-agent first baseman Jason Giambi in the batting order. The Athletics believe Sheffield could help shift the balance in the American League even if Giambi, as expected, agrees to a multiyear contract with the New York Yankees today or Thursday.

“There are a lot of clubs that think that Sheff, in their ballparks, is a 50-homer guy,” said agent Scott Boras, who has updated Sheffield frequently on trade developments this week. “They know that in Dodger Stadium he’s a 40-homer hitter. He’s also reaching that time in his career where players like him really take off.

“Some of the teams are concerned about what Sheff’s contract situation is going to be beyond the 2002 season. But I told Sheff during the season that the interest in him is going to be there. We just have to wait and see how the process plays out.”

However, Beane has other options. The Athletics are considering retaining Koch, acquiring outfielder David Justice from the New York Mets and signing free-agent first baseman Tino Martinez. The Athletics are apparently now attempting to sweeten the deal, requesting that the Dodgers pay part of the $20.5 million Sheffield is guaranteed under his contract, sources said.

Evans believed he could get Koch from Toronto without Beane’s help, which would have enabled him to consider other offers for Sheffield, but Beane proved otherwise.

The Dodgers are not willing to renegotiate the remaining three years on Sheffield’s contract, extend the package or make other contractual concessions to him. Sheffield could demand to be traded after the 2002 season as a player traded in a multiyear contract, but Beane is skilled at overcoming such obstacles.

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Times Staff Writer Ross New-han contributed to this story.