Mets Pull Out of Sheffield Talks

VERO BEACH, Fla. —  The New York Mets on Thursday pulled out of trade talks for Gary Sheffield, at least temporarily.

Met General Manager Steve Phillips told Dodger counterpart Kevin Malone that his pursuit of Sheffield had ended after Malone rejected the Mets’ offer of center fielder Darryl Hamilton and reliever Dennis Cook.

The Dodgers want either catcher Mike Piazza or second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo.

“At some point it needs to come to some conclusion,” Phillips said. “We knew what they were trying to do, they knew what we were trying to do, and it was obvious it wasn’t going to go anywhere. I anticipated the response, but it solidified my thoughts.”

Meanwhile, Malone offered second baseman Mark Grudzielanek and Sheffield to the Cincinnati Reds for Gold Glove second baseman Pokey Reese and outfielder Dmitri Young, baseball sources confirmed, but the Reds declined the proposal.

The Reds are interested in Sheffield, and the Mets might rejoin the talks, which would be in keeping with this public poker game.

“I’m going to keep the door open because they have interest, but they have concerns too,” Malone said. “[Phillips] did a good job of explaining his perspective, and I understand. They felt like Gary was too much of a risk.”

Notes

The Dodgers changed their stance on Marquis Grissom’s contract, his agent said Thursday. The outfielder had agreed to defer a percentage of the remaining $10 million guaranteed on his deal, but agent Eric Goldschmidt said Malone told him the contract would not be altered. The Dodgers have not decided whether to exercise a 2003 $5-million club option.