Perturbed Piazza to Go for Broke in Arbitration

Dodger All-Star catcher Mike Piazza and his representatives, angered by the stalemate in negotiations, said they will submit the highest arbitration salary figure in baseball history today, believed to be about $8 million.

The two sides have not negotiated since Thursday, when they were within $1 million of a two-year deal worth about $14.5 million, sources said.

“I don’t want to come to spring training where I’m not in a good mood,” Piazza said. “And right now, I’m disappointed and frustrated. If they don’t step up, you have to back up and evaluate the situation.

“If we have to go to arbitration, I will be very, very disappointed.”

Piazza, who said he feels almost as though he has been snubbed by the organization, is expected to play out his contract and test the free-agent market in two years.

“Sure we’re going to explore it, why not?” said Dan Lozano, who, along with Dennis Gilbert, represents Piazza. “As it appears right now, we will definitely test the market. They have not shown any appreciation for Mike.”

Piazza, who has hit more home runs and driven in more runs his first four seasons than any other catcher in history, originally sought a six-year deal for about $60 million. That’s less than free-agent outfielder Albert Belle’s five-year, $55-million contract with the Chicago White Sox. The Dodgers, according to sources, offered Piazza a three-year deal worth about $21 million.

Piazza and the Dodgers finally agreed that they would focus on a two-year contract.

“Historically, the Dodgers like to pick fights with their marquee players and that’s what’s happening here,” Lozano said. “Mike was disappointed about not getting a long-term deal, and now that we didn’t come to an agreement on a two-year deal, it’s even more disappointing.

“The Dodgers knew exactly what we were looking for. They knew where we were all weekend, how they could reach us, and they never bothered to call us back. They made no effort to even get an agreement. We weren’t even that far apart.

“Now, we will request the highest [figure] in the history of arbitration.”

Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said, “We’ve been very direct. This is all part of the process. Our goal is to sign Mike and that hasn’t changed. Our record will reflect very few cases that have gone to arbitration.

“We have always tried to reach a settlement, and it’s true in this case. I can recall some years when we’ve settled the day of the [arbitration] hearing. As long as both sides continue to work, nothing should get in the way.”

The Dodgers and Piazza will exchange salary arbitration figures this morning. Piazza’s figure will easily eclipse pitcher Jack McDowell’s record $6.5-million submission in 1994. The Dodgers are expected to file for about $6 million, the highest by any franchise in history.

The Dodgers have had only three arbitration hearings in the last eight years, and have not gone to arbitration with a marquee player since Orel Hershiser in 1987. Hershiser also took them to arbitration in ’86. Negotiations can continue until their arbitration hearing, which would be held in February in Orlando, Fla.

But if no agreement is reached before then, there could be animosity and lingering bitterness. Piazza has not attended any of the Dodger voluntary workouts.

“Arbitration has a tendency to bring out the worst in organizations and the ballplayer and they realize that,” Lozano said. “If this goes to arbitration, they would lose in both situations. If they win, they lose. If they lose, they lose.

“Mike has the mental makeup to handle it, of course, but it can’t help but have a negative effect.”

Said Claire: “You just have to accept it as part of what it is. You try to do the best you can to avoid it, but we’ve had experiences where that hasn’t been a factor.

“I remember the year Orel became the first player to win at $1 million [1986], we were the first people there to congratulate him. You try to build the best relationship you can and not let anything get in the way of that.”