One Deal Done, Now the Focus Turns to Piazza

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Bob Graziano assumed control of the Dodgers with the sale of the team Thursday to Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Group.

And that means that Graziano, the new Dodger president and chief executive, is responsible for signing all-star catcher Mike Piazza to a multiyear contract extension. Fox Group officials emphasized that point, and Graziano understands the importance of his role.

“The organization has been very clear and consistent on this,” he said. “We want to sign Mike Piazza. Mike is a very important player for the Dodgers, and we’re going to move forward at the appropriate time.”

But Graziano won’t say when that will occur. As of Thursday evening, the Dodgers had not contacted Piazza’s agent, Dan Lozano.

Graziano said he doesn’t feel pressure to complete a deal quickly because Piazza is under contract for this season. Piazza, in the final year of a two-year, $15-million contract, is believed to be seeking a seven-year deal worth $15 million annually, which would make him the game’s highest-paid player.

Lozano said Piazza isn’t concerned about the situation and hinted that Piazza might not be ready to negotiate now.

“First and foremost, I want to thank Mr. [Peter] O’Malley for treating Mike as well as he did,” he said. “He showed Mike respect as a person and as a baseball player, and we appreciate that.

“But as for the issue of Mike’s contract, I totally agree with Bob. Mike is signed for the season, and there are no deadlines. Our priority is to play out the season and to see which teams come bidding for his services.”

Piazza is coming off his best season. In 1997, he hit .362 with 40 home runs and 124 runs batted in. He has more home runs than any catcher in major league history through his first five seasons.

Although this is Graziano’s first big test, he won’t make the decision alone. Any deal worth that kind of money--$100 million or more--requires the approval of his Fox Group superiors.

“We expect Bob to run the Dodgers and develop a plan as he sees fit,” said Peter Chernin, chairman and chief executive of the Fox Group. “But when things out of the ordinary come up, you would hope that anyone would want to have a second opinion.”