Sheffield Hints He Might Not Play Very Well

Gary Sheffield tried a new approach Sunday, warning the Dodgers he might struggle if they keep him.

The disgruntled left fielder increased the pressure in his attempt to join the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets or New York Yankees, intimating his feelings toward Chairman Bob Daly might affect his performance.

And Sheffield again criticized the club’s top executive for seeking equal value for him because “that ain’t going to happen.”

Sheffield has been blasting Daly for two weeks, pushing Daly to do what he must to end the assault.

“The best thing for [General Manager] Kevin [Malone] to do is to just let Gary go before it gets uglier than it already is,” Sheffield said. “It can [get uglier] because my mind ain’t going to change.”

The six-time all-star said he will honor his contract and “do my best” if Daly keeps him on the team, but he also said it would be hard to excel under such circumstances.

“I’m not 100% mentally here, and I’ve never played baseball like that before,” Sheffield said. “You never know what you’re going to get out of that. I’m going to do my best, but I can’t stitch it in stone how I’m going to do every day.”

Sheffield previously said he might not hit many home runs if he is forced to stay.

“Watch how many I hit this year [if I am traded],” Sheffield said.

And if he is not traded?

“I don’t know how many I’ll hit then,” he said.

Sheffield made it clear he planned to do his best “for my teammates,” but it would be in the Dodgers’ best interest to trade him to one of the three clubs on his wish list--as soon as possible.

“I’m not trying to make it difficult, I’m trying to make it as easy as possible,” he said. “But I’m not going to go someplace [other than to the Braves, Mets or Yankees] and say I’m not going to ask for a trade at the end of the year.”

Two baseball executives monitoring the situation said the Mets are the only club aggressively pursuing Sheffield.

Daly and Malone are not satisfied with the Mets’ offer of center fielder Jay Payton and a prospect, but the executives said Met General Manager Steve Phillips believes the Dodgers will accept the deal because they must trade Sheffield before opening day.

A Met scout focused on Sheffield in the Baltimore Orioles’ 5-3 victory at Dodgertown on Sunday.

Sheffield, booed in his first game, played four innings and was hitless in one at-bat with a walk and a stolen base.

First baseman Todd Zeile said Met players hope the clubs complete a deal.

“If it happened, he definitely would be welcomed,” said the former Dodger, who had expressed concern that Sheffield’s presence might adversely affect the New York clubhouse. “I know enough of his ex-teammates, and I know Sheff well enough to know he’s a good guy.”

Sheffield said Phillips has handled the situation well.

“If I was Steve Phillips, I would be doing the same thing,” he said. “Why gut your franchise? The Dodgers know I want to be traded, and they’re not going to get equal value for me.”

Sheffield is prepared for the Dodgers to drag out the process.

“Right now, it’s just a waiting game,” he said. “We’ll see who waits each other out the best.”

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The wound from Adrian Beltre’s appendectomy has not closed, it is still draining and he has not eaten solid food in about two months.

Players said Beltre will start the season on the disabled list, but club officials and medical personnel are optimistic that he will be the opening-day third baseman.

“Do I think there is a possibility he still will be ready for opening day? Of course I do,” team physician Michael Mellman said.

“Do I know that for a fact? No, I don’t. I would be a whole lot more comfortable if his drainage had stopped.”

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Matt Herges was the club’s biggest surprise last season, pitching well as a key reliever and occasional starter.

Herges, who turns 31 on April 1, was 11-3 with a 3.17 earned-run average, having led the bullpen with 87 2/3 innings (110 overall).

But the Dodgers declined to negotiate a contract with Herges, renewing his salary at $250,000 after paying him $205,000 in 2000.

The Dodgers also renewed reliever Onan Masaoka at $250,000, although Masaoka worked only 27 innings and spent most of the season at triple-A Albuquerque.

“It is disappointing,” said agent Danny Horwits, who represents Herges and Masaoka. “But I understand the process.”

Notes

Kevin Brown pitched two innings against the Orioles. Brown gave up a solo homer and struck out three with two walks. . . . Eric Gagne, expected to start the season at triple-A Las Vegas, gave up a hit and an unearned run in two innings. . . . Marquis Grissom led off and had two hits in three at-bats. . . . Jesse Orosco, competing for a left-handed role in the bullpen, took the loss as the Orioles scored three unearned runs in the eighth after the Dodgers committed two errors.