Is Boras an Agent for Change?

In an attempt to salvage his relationship with the Dodgers, embattled left fielder Gary Sheffield fired his representative Monday and hired influential agent Scott Boras.

Sheffield dismissed Jim Neader and turned to Boras, who represents many of the team’s key players, in the wake of Neader’s failed contract-extension strategy.

The six-time all-star alienated club officials, teammates and baseball fans nationwide with his contract stance and trade request, blasting Chairman Bob Daly and hinting he might struggle if the Dodgers keep him.

Boras and Daly have a good relationship, and Sheffield hopes Boras can persuade the club’s top executive to forgive him and keep him on the team despite his missteps.

The agent who negotiated shortstop Alex Rodriguez’s record 10-year, $252-million deal with the Texas Rangers in December agreed to accept Sheffield as a client only if he apologized to fans and played under the terms of his current six-year, $61-million contract.

“As far as our involvement, it was not in any other way than to help [Sheffield] map out a plan to fulfill his contract with the Dodgers,” said Boras, whose nine Dodger clients include three starting pitchers and three everyday players. “It was not to begin the process of any kind of immediate negotiation. That was clear on our part coming into this, and it was clear on Gary’s part as far as what our role would be.”

The Tampa-based Neader had been Sheffield’s agent his entire 13-year career, and previously represented Sheffield’s uncle, New York Yankee pitcher Dwight Gooden.

“It was a surprise, and it was very difficult,” said Neader, still owed a percentage of the remainder of Sheffield’s contract. “We had a nice conversation and I wish him and his family the best. That’s really all I have to say.”

The Dodgers are pleased that Boras interceded on Sheffield’s behalf, but his involvement did not immediately inspire forgiveness.

Derrick Hall, senior vice president, said the organization would still consider its options, though he conceded Boras’ involvement “throws a new curve into the situation, a very positive one, for now.”

Sheffield acknowledged that his actions this spring have cast a shadow over the club during a meeting with reporters at Dodgertown, saying he has many fences to mend.

Boras has come to Sheffield’s aid in a tumultuous time for the player, giving the club more to consider.

The Dodgers must decide whether Boras is too late to help.

“I just want to say that I want to honor my contract, and I’m going to demand nothing,” said a contrite Sheffield, reading from a handwritten statement. “I’m just going to go back to being a baseball player. I got in unfamiliar territory in negotiations, and that’s not my area.

“I’m a baseball player, No. 1, and that’s what I need to get back to and concentrate on. That’s why I hired Scott to take care of all my legal business. That way, I don’t have to talk about anything but baseball.

“I owe the L.A. Dodger fans an apology. I owe them a great performance this year. That’s something I want to concentrate on, and put all my focus on giving them the best year, and helping the Dodgers win a championship. I just want to get back to being a ballplayer and an L.A. Dodger.”

Sheffield, who plans to apologize to his teammates in a closed-door meeting today, met with Daly for 30 minutes Monday night during a 3-1 loss to the New York Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

“Gary fully and completely apologized for the situation,” Hall said. “Bob accepted the apology but told him he was going to take it one day at a time, and actions were more important than words.

“That was an important step for Gary. But not knowing what the future entails yet, we’re going to now take this into consideration with very slow and careful steps.”

Sheffield sought Boras’ help in desperation, several of his friends said. He has been sullen because of his botched attempt to become a “lifetime Dodger,” having been unable to focus while being booed vociferously in exhibition games.

Boras had monitored the situation because of his strong ties to the club through his representation of pitchers Kevin Brown, Darren Dreifort, Eric Gagne and Chan Ho Park; catchers Chad Kreuter and Angel Pena; and third basemen Adrian Beltre and Mark Lewis, signed to a minor league contract last week.

The Newport Beach-based agent traveled to Dodgertown on March 8 to encourage Beltre to have abdominal surgery, and Sheffield spoke with Boras about his problem shortly after the agent arrived.

Sheffield and Boras declined comment, but sources said Sheffield had been concerned that Neader put him on an ill-advised course to receive the four-year, $80-million extension he wanted.

He had been led to believe that Daly planned to meet his request, although his contract guaranteed him $30 million through the 2003 season, and the club holds an $11-million option for 2004.

Boras, Sheffield and Sheffield’s wife, DeLeon, discussed the situation in three weekend meetings at Sheffield’s Vero Beach residence.

Late Sunday night, Sheffield decided to make a change, severing ties with Neader on Monday.

“This negotiation has a whole history to it and a great deal of miscommunication and misunderstanding that has gone on between many of the parties involved,” Boras said. “The simplest form to approach this, Gary’s future with the club, is we felt, and our advice to him was, you need to get back to being a baseball player and you need to honor your contract.”

“Gary has done that, and he also needed to let the L.A. fans know that there are a lot of things said. He was not the direct recipient of what was said, but now that he has information, and based on that information, he’s comfortable to remain with the Dodgers. He wants to be part of the Dodger team as he was in the past.”

General Manager Kevin Malone had been critical of Neader, blaming the mess on his “bad advice” and “unprofessional” behavior.

With Boras on the case, Malone apparently sees a light at the end of the tunnel.

“I think [the situation] definitely changed, more so for those that weren’t close to the situation,” Malone said. “Being involved with Gary from the beginning, I kind of always felt in his heart that he wanted to be here, but that he was going about it in a fashion or a manner that wasn’t conducive to what he was trying to accomplish.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Teamwork

Agent Scott Boras’ Dodger clients:

3B Adrian Beltre

P Kevin Brown

P Darren Dreifort

P Eric Gagne

C Chad Kreuter

3B Mark Lewis

P Chan Ho Park

C Angel Pena

OF Gary Sheffield

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ALSO

ROSS NEWHAN, D10