Sheffield Situation Remains Tenuous at Best

Noticing a crowd, Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green hugged, smiled and walked together Monday at Dodgertown.

“See, look at me and Greenie,” Sheffield said, smiling. “No problems. Put that in the paper.”

But Sheffield remains a problem for the Dodgers.

Despite his upbeat display, the disgruntled left fielder still wants to be traded.

The Dodgers maintain that the Sheffield situation has not been a distraction.

That could change, of course, if Sheffield is not traded soon and continues to blast management.

Team officials are not commenting and players are focusing on their jobs.

Pitcher Kevin Brown, one of Sheffield’s closest friends, has counseled him and Sheffield has told Brown and others he will cooperate.

Sheffield has declined recent interview requests, but the organization acknowledges it cannot depend on the mercurial player, who has vacillated between hoping to be “a lifetime Dodger,” and his trade demands.

General Manager Kevin Malone said that the Atlanta Braves had moved ahead of the New York Mets and Yankees in the race to acquire Sheffield, but several baseball sources said Malone’s comments were a negotiating ploy.

Malone said Sheffield will be in the opening-day lineup unless the Dodgers receive “fair value,” despite public condemnation of Sheffield’s demands and diatribes.

“It shows that the fans have a lot of passion for this team,” said Derrick Hall, senior vice president. “If the fans continue to show interest in what we’re doing, that’s a positive sign for the foundation and the following we’ve established in Los Angeles.”

The Dodgers believe fans would forgive Sheffield.

“If Gary Sheffield were to remain with the Dodgers by his choice, we would encourage him to reach out to the fans, and to put this behind him,” Hall said.

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A 10-inning intrasquad game is scheduled today at noon at Holman Stadium.

Manager Jim Tracy said another game will be played Wednesday.

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Umpire Bruce Froemming, at Tracy’s request, conducted a meeting with the Dodgers about the new strike zone.