Vaughn Makes a Pitch

Mo Vaughn arrived at Shea Stadium on Friday, some of his contract deferred, none of his enthusiasm diminished.

Almost a week after the New York Mets agreed to trade pitcher Kevin Appier to the Angels for Vaughn, the first baseman explained why he was willing to restructure the balance of his contract to make the deal work.

“I’m lucky to have my finances straight,” he said. “I don’t have any debt that causes me to need something right away. I wanted to be here. I wanted this to happen and they did too. If it helps the club, even better, I felt. It’s all worth it. Look where you are now.”

General Manager Steve Phillips and agent Jeff Moorad labored to finalize the deal. Vaughn was owed $50 million in salary and bonuses for the next three years, what’s left of an original $80-million package. Under the new structure, the Angels will pay the remaining $8 million of Vaughn’s signing bonus, and some of his salary will be deferred each of the next three years.

The union, which had to sign off on the deal, estimates it will cost Vaughn about $500,000 in present-day value.

“Mo deferred a big chunk of money,” Phillips said. “He invested in this deal getting done.”

Vaughn has some ideas on how Phillips can use the leftover money. He summed it up in two words--Juan Gonzalez.

The free-agent outfielder also is Moorad’s client and has said he wants to play for the Mets. Vaughn would be delighted to have him.

“I know Steve doesn’t want to talk about it, but there’s another piece out there,” Vaughn said. “I’m not the GM. My guy is Jeff, who’s Juan’s guy. Juan wants to be here. Anything’s possible. I don’t think it’s done yet.”

It won’t be unless Phillips creates some room in the Mets’ $95-million payroll budget. Appier is due to make $9 million next season plus $1 million of his signing bonus. Vaughn’s salary for 2002 is $10 million, so the deal is a wash from the Mets’ cash flow standpoint.

But it does change the look of the Mets’ lineup, giving Manager Bobby Valentine a left-handed power hitter behind Mike Piazza.

“We’ve changed our team dramatically,” Valentine said. “We have the same kind of payroll, but a much different, much better team.”

Vaughn was one of baseball’s biggest sluggers before a torn biceps tendon cost him all of last season. With 299 career home runs and a .298 career batting average, he adds credibility to the Mets’ attack

Vaughn has been working out since September and pronounced himself fit.

“This is an unbelievable time for me,” he said. “I never thought this could happen at this time. I think I’ll be better than when I left. When I’m healthy, I can play this game pretty well.”

Phillips knows Gonzalez is on Vaughn’s wish list.

“He’s a player whose name everybody else throws out there,” Phillips said. “I work in the confines of a budget. Nothing’s changed in our position on the budget. To get a premier free agent, we’ve got to gain financial flexibility.”

Phillips has reshaped his team in the off-season, adding outfielder Roger Cedeno, second baseman Robbie Alomar and Vaughn to an offense that was last in runs scored with 642 last season. He also acquired left-hander Shawn Estes to replace Appier.

Phillips said he was comfortable with the Mets’ starting staff of Al Leiter, Estes, Steve Trachsel, Glendon Rusch and Bruce Chen.