Robin Ventura

David Justice

After disappointing 2001 seasons, maybe a change of scenery will help Robin Ventura and David Justice bounce back.

They won't need to travel far to find out.

The New York Yankees made a rare deal with the crosstown Mets on Friday, swapping Justice for Ventura in a trade that fills needs for both teams.

"I'm still in the same city, living in the same place. I kind of like my scenery. Maybe a change of teams and situations will do that," Ventura said of a revival. "Only time will tell."

The trade is the first in more than eight years between the teams and the first involving major leaguers since 1992. The teams have exchanged players only six times since the Mets began play in 1962.

"It's kind of weird to be traded from the Yankees to the Mets with the rivalry and all of that," Justice said. "I'm at that point of my career where you can always be traded at any minute. I'm happy to go to the Mets. There are far worse teams be traded to."

With the retirement of Scott Brosius, the Yankees were in need of a stopgap at third base until heralded prospect Drew Henson is ready to take over.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman first broached the idea of a Justice-Ventura swap with the Mets a little more than a month ago. The deal was finalized Thursday.

"There's a reason it takes eight years to make a deal," Cashman said. "We're in competition with each other."

The Yankees also signed reliever Steve Karsay to a four-year contract worth $22.25 million. The deal includes a club option for a fifth year.

The Mets struggled offensively last season and scored the fewest runs in baseball. They were also second-to-last in the NL in home runs. Mets right fielders hit .240 with just 15 homers and 61 RBIs last season.

Justice has 294 career homers, including a career-high 41 in 2000 for Cleveland and the Yankees.

"We feel like David brings a lot of versatility to our lineup," Mets GM Steve Phillips said. "He's a left-handed bat with pop and the ability to get clutch hits. This allows us to consider ways to improve our offense in the outfield and infield. That added flexibility to the roster is very important."

Justice, 35, struggled last season, going on the disabled list twice for an injured right groin, and batted just .241 with 18 homers and 51 RBIs.

"I've got a lot left," he said. "Last year was based solely on injuries, no doubt about it. I still have my bat speed and still have my defensive skills. I don't feel like I've gone down at all. Injuries played a part."

The Yankees also are close to a contract with free-agent first baseman Jason Giambi, who has led the AL in on-base the past two seasons.

Ventura is looking forward to taking advantage of Yankee Stadium's 314-foot right-field porch -- 24 feet shorter than Shea Stadium.

"I always enjoyed going there with the White Sox and the Mets," Ventura said. "It will be nice to be able to hook a lot of balls in there."

There was no money exchanged in the deal. The Yankees will pay Ventura's $8.25 million salary in 2002 and the Mets will pay Justice $7 million. Both players are eligible for free agency after next season.

The Yankees and Mets hadn't made a trade since Sept. 17, 1993, when the Mets traded Frank Tanana for minor league pitcher Kenny Greer. In 1992, the Mets traded pitcher Tim Burke to the Yankees for reliever Lee Guetterman.

New Padres' park vote sought

Another lawsuit against the city's planned downtown stadium seeks to force a new public vote on the ballpark because of changes to the financing for a project that has been stalled in early construction for more than a year.

Robert Simmons, a retired law professor, claims in a suit filed Thursday that the new financing plan is so different from the 1998 ballot measure that it must go back to voters for approval.

City Attorney Casey Gwinn said he was reviewing the lawsuit but noted it was just one in a series many unsuccessful legal challenges filed by opponents of the stadium project.

In the 1998 vote, 59 percent of San Diego voters approved the stadium project. Construction stopped in October 2000 when financing stalled because of the legal challenges.

Though two lawsuits remain on appeal, the City Council voted 8-1 last month to approve a new bond financing plan for much of its $206 million share of the project.

The new plan requires the city's redevelopment agency, the Centre City Development Corp., to pay $76 million toward the project instead of the original $50 million.

The Padres have signed a five-year working agreement with the Mexico City Devils, the most elite team in the Mexican Summer League.

Who's staying, going

Juan Gonzalez was offered arbitration to stay in Cleveland, Jason Isringhausen was set to leave Oakland for St. Louis and the Athletics quickly filled the upcoming vacancy in their bullpen by acquiring Billy Koch from Toronto in a trade for two minor leaguers.

Atlanta, meanwhile, kept catcher Javy Lopez, agreeing to a $6 million, one-year deal. Houston re-signed outfielder Orlando Merced and Tampa Bay re-signed shortstop Chris Gomez.

Teams had until 9 p.m. PST to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents. Those not offered arbitration can't re-sign until May 1. Players offered arbitration have until Dec. 19 to accept or reject the offers and can keep negotiating with their former clubs through Jan. 8.

Cleveland's offer of arbitration to Gonzalez was a surprise. While the 32-year-old outfielder had a great season with the Indians, batting .325 with 35 homers and 140 RBI, the Indians turned down a $14 million option, saying it was too expensive for them.

Also

· The San Francisco Giants have made a formal offer to re-sign Barry Bonds, and are awaiting a reply from agent Scott Boras. Boras said he expects Bonds, who hit a record 73 homers this year, to get a five-year deal worth at least $100 million.

· An attorney for former American League MVP Jose Canseco entered an innocent plea for him in a Halloween night scuffle at a Miami Beach nightclub.