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MLB - Dodgers Cooking Without Sheff

By Michael Melissa
Tuesday, June 25th, 2002

Dan Evans must be the smartest man in baseball.

You have to be brilliant to trade one of the best hitters in baseball for a solid, yet injury prone left fielder, and an unproven, inconsistent left-handed starter.

What did the Dodger general manager see in these two players that convinced him it was enough for Gary Sheffield? Neither came with the promise of World Series riches -- heck, they didn't come over with World Series rings even (despite playing with one of the best dynasties in baseball history -- but that's a whole other issue for another day).

Geniuses often take calculated risks, which is the only way to explain why Evans traded a player with Hall of Fame numbers. All right, maybe Sheffield was a tad disruptive in the clubhouse. Maybe he didn't really give the Dodgers much trade options with his effusive behavior. Perhaps his signaling out players to make his point for more money was a bit over the top, but really, is that enough to trade a perennial all-star and future Hall of Famer?

You bet it is.

Evans turned a lousy poker hand into a royal flush. He disposed of a major headache and acquired two quality players in the process. Let the Atlanta Braves have the Sheffield experience. For Evans, it's about the team as a whole rather than its parts. It was a refreshing move for an organization that been known lately to go for the quick, expensive fix.

Moving Sheffield out for Brian Jordan and Odalis Perez was a distinct message to the rest of the team and its fans - the Dodgers will not accept a lone wolf on this squad.

And while Jordan is not Andruw Jones and Perez is not Tom Glavine, both have contributed to Los Angeles' 46-29 record. With Jordan, the Dodgers got a 10-year veteran who is a proven clutch player with some pop, and a strong clubhouse presence.

Many are quick to point out that Jordan will not come close to Sheffield's offense, however, this season, Jordan's numbers are better or comparable to Sheffield in eight different categories. Sheffield has battled a wrist injury for most of the season, while Jordan has played with a sore knee for more than month and still has more RBI (38 to 33), better slugging percentage (.520 to .440), and runs scored (40 to 31).

What really makes Evans a genius, though, is getting Perez as a throw in on the deal. Japanese import Kazuhisa Ishii may be 11-2 this season and earmarked for the all-star game, but Perez, at 8-3 and a 2.52 ERA (fourth in the National League), has arguably been the Dodger's best pitcher this season. The 23-year-old left-hander has thrown 2 complete games, 1 shut out, walked just 14, and struck out 73 in 107 innings this season.

So while Sheffield is being pandered by Atlanta with a marketing campaign centered solely on him (rather than its two potential Hall of Fame pitchers, and all-star center fielder, and third baseman), the Dodgers have quietly played some of the best baseball in the National League. Attribute most of it to a Sheffield-free clubhouse that has gelled without the off-field distractions.

Fourteen years ago, a former Los Angeles GM made his mark by acquiring a couple of free agents and making some crucial trades. After a the 1988 season, everyone and their brother were calling Fred Claire a brilliant baseball man for signing Kirk Gibson and acquiring Alfredo Griffin, Jesse Orosco, and Jay Howell for Bob Welch. Those moves helped the Dodger capture their sixth world championship.

Four years later, Claire traded Pedro Martinez for Delino DeShields. People didn't call him a genius too much after that.

Will people still be calling Evans a genius after a few years?

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