HAPPY TO BE A BRAVE SHEFFIELD HAS PEACE OF MIND.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

The Dodgers have a problem with Gary Sheffield.

This time, it isn't the lengthy tirades, contract squabbles or clubhouse mayhem that overshadowed Sheffield's three-plus seasons in Los Angeles.

Sheffield is coming to town tonight for the first time since his Jan. 15 trade to the Atlanta Braves. Not only will the Dodgers be pitting their wild-card hopes against the team with baseball's best record, but Sheffield is the National League's hottest hitter.

``Wow, that should be something,'' said Trenidad Hubbard, Sheffield's former Dodgers teammate and now a member of the San Diego Padres. ``Sheff is always at his best in the big games. And those will be big games.''

Right now, every game is big for Sheffield. Wednesday night in San Diego, he hit two homers and drove in five runs in the Braves' 6-3 victory. Since the All-Star break, he is batting .400 with nine homers and 30 RBI in 38 games. This year, he reached base in 52 consecutive games.

Sheffield, 33, said he never has been happier. The Braves are 18 1/2 games in front in the NL East. He has overcome an opening-day wrist injury that kept his numbers down for the first few months of the season.

And though he does not appear in the top 10 of any National League offensive category, Sheffield has emerged as a leading MVP candidate.

``He has given this team a new look,'' teammate Chipper Jones said. ``Everyone in here is better because he is around.''

Sheffield said coming back to Los Angeles is no different than returning to past cities. His bat speed has not slowed after 14 seasons. He showers praise on his teammates and especially new manager Bobby Cox, whom he always refers to as ``Mr. Cox.''

In Atlanta, he is near his roots of Tampa, Fla., although he now lives in San Francisco near close friend Barry Bonds of the Giants. Sheffield and his wife, DeLeon, a gospel singer, are expecting their first child next month.

``I am at peace here,'' Sheffield said.

That might be difficult for Dodgers fans to believe. His talent never was in question. After coming over in the controversial Mike Piazza trade with Florida in May 1998, Sheffield averaged .315, 37 homers, 103 RBI and 102 runs with the Dodgers.

But those numbers were blurred by an explosive personality. He criticized the contracts of teammates Eric Karros and Darren Dreifort. He feuded openly with management, which he claimed reneged on promises to renegotiate his contract.

According to his agent, Scott Boras, the rift began after front office changes also brought a new philosophy. Boras claims when club president Bob Daly took over in 2000 he did not agree with the past regime that the Dodgers were bound to pick up Sheffield's option year.

When baseball-wide salaries began to skyrocket, Sheffield felt cheated by his $10 million contract, which was well below market value for elite players.

When Sheffield left the Dodgers in a trade for outfielder Brian Jordan and left-hander Odalis Perez, it marked another bad ending in Sheffield's career. He joined his first team, Milwaukee at age 19, but by 22 he was bitter and wanted to move on.

San Diego was better, he even won a batting title. But when the Padres started dumping salaries in a rebuilding effort, Sheffield was sent to Florida. He signed a six-year, $66 million contract and won a World Series, but in less than two years, the team was dismantled for financial reasons.

``I never wanted to leave San Diego,'' Sheffield said. ``I didn't want to leave Florida. But I was in the middle of fire sales. I don't worry about the past. I have a lot of confidence in my ability. I will wind up where I am supposed to be.''

His new Braves teammates were watching when Sheffield came on board last winter. Atlanta had won 11 consecutive division titles by maintaining a steady decorum. Malcontents such as John Rocker and Kenny Lofton were traded quickly after problems arose.

``But we weren't going to judge Sheff on what we had heard,'' Braves starter Kevin Millwood said. ``We knew what a great player he was and that was all that was important. Those problems in the past were in the past. One of the strengths of this team is we make up our own minds about people. And Gary Sheffield is a great teammate and one incredible person.''

Despite his success in Atlanta, however, there are no guarantees he will finish his career with the Braves.

To waive the no-trade clause in his contract, Sheffield insisted the Braves erase the $11 million club option on his contract for the 2004 season before leaving the Dodgers.

In the current baseball climate, that was a bargain and Sheffield thought he could do better. To prove it, he took that money off the table, even though he has had a history of injuries throughout his career.

Although Sheffield has said he wants to wear a Braves cap into the Hall of Fame, his contract is up after next season.

But finding the dollars to keep the Braves intact might be difficult.

The Braves' top pitchers, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, are eligible for free agency this year and will be seeking new deals worth between $12 million and $15 million per season.

Left-fielder Chipper Jones, also an MVP candidate, will make $15 million next season. Gold Glove center fielder Andruw Jones is scheduled to earn $12 million.

Closer John Smoltz is in the first season of a three-year, $30 million deal.

The Braves hold a $7 million option for catcher Javy Lopez and owe aging third baseman Vinny Castilla $4.5 million next year.

Castilla has played well defensively but gone almost 200 at-bats without a home run. If pending free agent Scott Rolen, who turned down a 10-year, $140 million contract with Philadelphia before his trade to St. Louis, does not sign with the Cardinals, the Braves are expected to make a serious bid.

Those staggering salaries are magnified by the uncertainty of a possible work stoppage Aug. 30 if a new collective-bargaining agreement cannot be reached between owners and players.

The biggest issue is revenue sharing and the growing divide between rich and poor clubs. Atlanta is one of the nation's largest markets, but since the Braves moved into Turner Field five years ago, attendance has dropped from 3.4 million to 2.6 million.

For the first time in his career, Sheffield does not seem worried. He has said that before, then strafed organizations in his wake. He said those days are over.

``I know what my value is,'' Sheffield said. ``I don't worry what other people in the room are making or what their contracts are. I love the atmosphere here. This team is all about winning. You can't beat that.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Former Dodger and current Atlanta Braves outfielder Gary Sheffield is having another great season and has come up in discussions about who eill be the National League MVP.

John Bazemore/Associated Press

(2) no caption (Gary Sheffield)

Box:

TALE OF TWO CITIES