More Bad News: Green Sidelined

Gary Sheffield was still the focus of spring training Saturday, but the Dodgers also face key injuries and declining morale less than a month before opening day.

As promised, the disgruntled left fielder increased his efforts to force the Dodgers to trade him to either the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets or New York Yankees, blasting management in interviews with newspaper, magazine and TV reporters at Dodgertown.

Meanwhile, the club conceded that Shawn Green’s right thumb injury is more serious than initially revealed, saying the right fielder might be sidelined a month.

Dave Hansen, who suffered a broken bone on the middle finger of his left hand, acknowledged that his injury and Adrian Beltre’s slow recovery from an appendectomy and infection could cause problems at third base.

Just another day at Dodgertown, where things are seemingly getting darker by the minute.

“If you want to kill a team, this is the way to do it,” said second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, echoing the sentiments of some players. “No question, the thing Sheff is going through with management has been a big distraction and everyone knows it. We’ve got some injuries that we’re dealing with now, so we don’t need this other stuff.

“Someone [in management] has to stand up and do the right thing, and just get it resolved, because it’s a big problem and it’s just wrong. Maybe they [team officials] don’t think this is having an effect on us, but they just need to wait and see what happens during the year because we’re not going anywhere with this stuff going on.”

The injuries to Green and Hansen do not help.

The Dodgers said Green was listed as day-to-day after he sprained his right thumb sliding into second base in Friday’s game against the Houston Astros, but the cleanup batter is expected to sit out at least a week.

Green might be out as much as a month, but Derrick Hall, senior vice president, said that would be a “worst-case scenario.”

Of course, such scenarios have been common this spring.

“We’re not doing too good, are we?” said Hansen, expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks. “We need some healthy guys.”

And a better climate at Dodgertown, where Chairman Bob Daly and General Manager Kevin Malone are under siege from Sheffield.

The six-time all-star plans to continue his assault until he wears another uniform.

“Obviously, it’s a distraction,” Sheffield said. “[Players are] wondering if I’m going to be here or not. Like I told you, ‘You don’t have to worry about Gary Sheffield.’ ”

Many in the organization said they feel tension at the usually serene complex, though Malone insists it is business as usual.

Sheffield is not losing sleep.

“It ain’t tense for me because I’ve been through this before,” said Sheffield, traded three times in his 13-year career. “I’ve come to expect this.”

Sheffield said Daly and Malone should not make another reconciliation attempt.

“Them days are over, they’re way over,” he said. “It’s not a matter of whether they do [accept it], they’re going to have to.”

Malone is still fighting, reiterating that Sheffield will be in the opening-day lineup unless the Dodgers get a “satisfactory deal.”

He appeared in front of a throng of reporters before the Dodgers’ 12-8, 10-inning victory over the Mets at Port St. Lucie, saying “the New York Mets are not serious players for Gary Sheffield,” and intimating that Met General Manager Steve Phillips was trying to take advantage of the Dodgers’ predicament.

Phillips took the high road.

“He said we’ve showed no interest?” Phillips said, smiling. “I don’t want to get into a back and forth. They’re in a tough situation, so I’m not going to react to things said.

“I’m not trying to take advantage of anyone. I’m trying to weigh what’s in the best interest of the Mets. But again, they’re in a tough boat. And in the end, it might be a no-win situation.”

Phillips can afford to be gracious, three baseball executives monitoring Met-Dodger talks said.

The Dodgers claim they have received several offers, but the executives said that the Mets’ package--believed to be center fielder Jay Payton and either minor leaguers Alex Escobar or Grant Roberts--is the best to this point.

The Yankees have offered only prospects, and baseball sources said some Yankee officials are leery about Sheffield in the wake of his scorched-earth policy.

And the Braves, the other team on Sheffield’s wish list, have rejected requests for either third baseman Chipper Jones, center fielder Andruw Jones or catcher Javy Lopez.

“This team is better with Sheff, no question,” Grudzielanek said. “But if they can’t get this worked out, they have to move on. And they have to do it soon.”

Notes

Right-hander Andy Ashby gave up six hits--including two home runs--and six runs in two innings. Pitching coach Jim Colborn said Ashby is tinkering with his delivery. . . . Ramon Martinez, expected to be the fifth starter, worked two innings and gave up a solo homer. . . . Adrian Beltre and first baseman Eric Karros, who has been sidelined because of back pain, participated in drills. Beltre is still not eating solid food after his appendectomy.