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PSST, HEY DEION ...
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Although Gary Sheffield withdrew his request to be traded from the Dodgers, the gesture might not have been genuine.
The New York Times is reporting that Sheffield asked his friend, Deion Sanders, to tell Reds general manager Jim Bowden that he really didn't mean his latest public pronouncement.
The report said that Sanders relayed the message to Bowden after practice Sunday.
Pulling Bowden away from a conversation with a reporter, Sanders told him, "I talked to Gary last night, and he still wants to come here," the report said.
Minutes earlier, Bowden had said he would like to add Sheffield to the Reds' lineup but had concluded he had no chance of trading for him because the Dodgers had asked for second baseman Pokey Reese, outfielder Dmitri Young and pitcher Scott Williamson.
Jim Neader, Sheffield's agent, said he knew nothing of Sheffield's telephone conversation with Sanders.
"I'm not aware of his interest in playing for the Reds," Neader said in a telephone interview. "It's one of the no-trade teams. It's not to say that could never happen, but I don't think that's an issue now. Gary told me his plans are to play for the Dodgers."
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VERO BEACH, Fla. – His trade demand rescinded, Gary
Sheffield said Sunday he will concentrate now on the upcoming
season, even as Dodger general manager Kevin Malone said he would
continue to explore trade options.
"I'm going to enjoy myself no matter what," Sheffield said.
"It's a short career. You might play 20 years, but it goes fast.
I'm going to enjoy the time that's left."
Malone said Sunday he may not go after trades with the same
intensity he did when Sheffield wanted a trade, but wouldn't rule
out a deal.
"We're going to keep all our options open," Malone said.
"We're going to do that with all our players. If we can make the
team better, we're going to do that. We've got a lot of players
teams have interest in. This isn't just about Gary Sheffield. It's
about making this team better.
"As I've said all along, I don't want to trade Gary Sheffield,
but who's to say we can't get overwhelmed in a deal for Gary."
Sheffield decided to take back his trade request because he
wanted to do what is best for his teammates and "true" fans.
Although he had said at times earlier in the spring that he didn't
know what type of season he would have if his mind weren't 100
percent on baseball, he said Sunday he was going to put those
worries to rest by having a better season in 2001 and the best
three years of his career over the rest of his contract.
Sheffield said the situation had been going on long enough.
"We've been through this for a month," he said. "I just want
to come in here and concentrate on baseball, do the best thing for
my teammates and my fans. That's the bottom line."
Dodger outfielder Marquis Grissom said Sheffield has always
wanted to be a Dodger.
"All Gary wants to do is play the games and get ready for the
season," Grissom said. "I think the fans deserve to know what's
going on. They need to know he wants to be in L.A."
The Sheffield drama started during the offseason when he asked
for a lifetime contract extension and was turned down. When that
happened, he asked to be traded to the Atlanta Braves, New York
Mets or New York Yankees. Last week, he expanded that list to
include St. Louis, Cincinnati, the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay, Kansas
City and Texas.
At the beginning, though, Sheffield said his hope was to remain
with the team.
"I guess the point was that he always wanted to be a Dodger but
just wanted to make sure that he would finish as a Dodger," Malone
said. "I think it just didn't go the way that (Sheffield's agent)
Jim (Neader) thought it would go. I think it's fine. We've dealt
with it. Gary wants to be here."
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ALSO SEE
Gammons: Sheffield withdraws trade request
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