Sheffield Wants to Remain a Dodger

Less than a year after trying to force a trade, all-star left fielder Gary Sheffield has told the Dodgers he accepts his contract situation and wants to remain with the club, baseball sources said Monday.

It had been believed that Sheffield would exercise his right to demand to be traded after the World Series if the Dodgers declined to renegotiate his deal.

However, agent Scott Boras expressed Sheffield’s desire to complete the commitment in a meeting with Chairman Bob Daly shortly after the regular season ended.

But trading Sheffield is still an option for the Dodgers, who have payroll concerns and several holes to fill.

The sides would not comment on the meeting, but Sheffield acknowledged he recently clarified his stance.

“When I hired Scott, Scott made it known to them I won’t ask for anything else, and they know I want to be here,” said Sheffield, who has returned to his off-season home in St. Petersburg, Fla. “I don’t want anybody to do anything for me. I just want to be here and help this team win. That’s why I came here in the first place--to win.

“I’m just going to go out there and play like I always do. As far as [Boras] going to them and asking for a [new] contract, that’s not going to happen.

“They don’t have to worry about that because that’s not what this is about. I just want to be able to put down roots here and feel comfortable. That’s what I’ve wanted my whole career.”

But typically with the Dodgers and Sheffield, the situation is complicated.

Sheffield is owed $9.5 million in 2002 and $11 million in 2003, and the club holds an option for $11 million in 2004.

The Dodgers have major payroll concerns, few prospects and holes in the rotation, bullpen and outfield. Trading Sheffield might enable the club to address many of their weaknesses in one major move, and new General Manager Dan Evans is evaluating his options.

“One thing I’ve learned with a lot of experience is that you never consider any player on your ballclub to be untouchable,” Evans said.

“Some of the greatest players in the history of the game have been moved, and when you win 86 games, you have to be willing to listen and to hear what the value of each one of your players are.

“To completely shut down any talk wouldn’t be prudent on my part, and I have to do what’s in the Dodgers’ best interest. But I didn’t come here with the intention of trading Gary Sheffield. I came here trying to see if we could improve our ballclub and keep Gary Sheffield. That would make us a better ballclub.”

Evans and Boras declined comment on whether the club has requested the list of 12 teams that Sheffield can block in his partial no-trade clause, but two officials from other clubs said the list has been submitted.

The New York Yankees, New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, the clubs that most aggressively pursued Sheffield in the spring, are among many major-market teams he has blocked this year, sources said.

However, baseball officials believe that the Yankees, Mets and Braves have been blocked as a negotiation ploy.

The Yankees already have had internal discussions about resuming their pursuit of the six-time all-star if the Dodgers make him available, sources said.

Sheffield is close to Yankee owner George Steinbrenner. Sheffield’s uncle, 1985 National League Cy Young Award winner Dwight Gooden, is a special assistant to Steinbrenner.

Would Sheffield rather play for the Yankees?

“Like I said, I want to be in L.A.,” he said. “I know what type of player I am, and I know what I can do to help this team.

“As far as what [the Dodgers are] going to do, I can’t control that. That’s between them and Scott.”

Boras reiterated that Sheffield loves L.A.

“I’m not going to get into possible scenarios or discuss my conversations with the club, but what I will say is that Gary Sheffield has expressed a desire to remain with the Dodgers and will work very hard in the off-season to do that,” he said.

“But Gary understands that the club has the ability to move him. He knows his contract status gives them the right to do that.

“Gary is prepared for that, and he’s not unsettled by that. Gary understands that this is a business. These clubs make business decisions. It’s not personal. We understand that there are a lot of rumors and speculation at this time of the year, and Gary will be ready for that.”

Evans is not worried about Sheffield becoming frustrated if trade speculation swirls around him again.

“I think I’ve developed a pretty good relationship with Gary,” he said.

“If anything ever needed to be discussed with him, I’m very comfortable talking to him.”

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Still Producing After All These Years

A look at some of Gary Sheffield’s statistics:

2001

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G AB R H HR RBIs Avg. 143 515 98 160 36 100 .311

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Dodger Averages (4 seasons) 

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G AB R H HR RBIs Avg. 131.5 466.5 89.5 145.8 32.3 91.8 .313

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Career Averages (14 seasons) 

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G AB R H HR RBIs Avg. 113.7 404.4 70.1 119.1 22.5 72.6 .295

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Career Highs

G: 161 (1996)

AB: 557 (1992)

R: 118 (1996)

H: 184 (1992)

HR: 43 (2000)

RBIs: 120 (1996)

Avg.: .330 (1992)