DODGERS NOTEBOOK: METS FALLING BY WAYSIDE IN SHEFFIELD TALKS.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - The chances that Gary Sheffield will go to the New York Mets are dwindling, but the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves remain viable options as Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone continues to shop his disgruntled All-Star left fielder.

Malone and Mets general manager Steve Phillips haven't come close to an agreement on a number of packages, and Malone is clearly ready to shift to another team to work out a deal.

He's had lengthy discussions with Braves general manager John Schuerholz and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, a close friend of Malone. But Malone said it's unlikely a deal could be worked out before the Dodgers' first spring-training game Friday against Houston.

``The Mets' interest has seemed to diminish while other clubs in the National League have been much more aggressive and appear much more willing to get a deal done,'' Malone said. ``There are other clubs in the National League East that, at this time, seem to be more aggressive in their pursuit of some of our players.''

The Dodgers, who had hoped to move Sheffield by now, believe teams want to monitor Sheffield's work habits and attitude in spring training before jumping into a deal.

But given Sheffield's comments about the organization and the possibility of growing contempt in the clubhouse if the situation is not resolved soon, other teams seem to be unwilling to offer ``equal value'' in a deal.

Even so, conversations with Schuerholz regarding Javy Lopez for Sheffield and Chad Kreuter have given Malone some optimism, a baseball official said, although the Braves so far have offered only Brian Jordan.

The Yankees remain interested because of owner George Steinbrenner's relationship with Sheffield, whose uncle, Dwight Gooden, is on the club. The Yankees and Dodgers have discussed a deal including David Justice and minor-league infielder Alfonso Soriano, baseball officials said.

``I would say the Yankees have been negotiating very fair in our discussions,'' Malone said. ``They made it clear their club is a strong possibility.''

Malone also made it clear that if the Dodgers are going to trade Sheffield, a foregone conclusion to many of those close to the team, he would accept only a fair deal and one he believed was negotiated in a fair manner.

``I would be more prone to deal with a team that has been the most fair and the most respectful of our situation,'' Malone said. ``In any of the trade discussions, for a particular club not to deal in an upfront and professional manner, it would not be in their best interest.

``There have been a number of clubs that have been fair and understanding, and they are dealing with us in a very fair and appropriate manner. I feel certain clubs are really trying to find a way to make this work.''

--Shhhhhh: Apparently, the Dodgers are tired of reading and hearing about the Sheffield situation.

The team announced that Sunday would be the final day officials will comment about his status.

--Odds and ends: Chan Ho Park, Darren Dreifort and Jeff Shaw will be among the pitchers to throw in two intrasquad games Tuesday. Kevin Brown, Andy Ashby, Ramon Martinez and Eric Gagne will pitch in a tentative intrasquad game Wednesday. Among the players not expected to pitch are Terry Adams, Carlos Perez, Jeff Williams, Mike Fetters, Antonio Osuna and Chad Ricketts. . . . Third baseman Adrian Beltre, recovering from an emergency appendectomy, is feeling better. He jogged on a treadmill and did some light work on the field.