Dodgers Decide to Take Budget Version of Bell, Get Cabell From Astros

Dodger Vice President Al Campanis, declaring the price too high for Buddy Bell, turned bargain hunter Wednesday, just when it appeared that the Texas Rangers’ third baseman finally was within reach.

Instead of getting Bell, who asked to be traded and reportedly listed the Dodgers as one of 10 teams he was willing to play for, Campanis, in his second trade in two days, obtained Enos Cabell from the Houston Astros. On Tuesday, Campanis had sent Al Oliver to the Toronto Blue Jays for first baseman Len Matuszek.

Bell would have cost the Dodgers at least one regular, perhaps more, Campanis said. Cabell came for considerably less: Rafael Montalvo, a relief pitcher at Triple-A Albuquerque, and another minor leaguer, reportedly third baseman German Rivera, who had no future in Los Angeles. To make room for Cabell, the Dodgers optioned Sid Bream to Albuquerque for the third time this season.

“I think we’re out of that (the Bell) picture, especially in view of what (the Rangers) might request,” Campanis said. “They wanted this and this, and we said, ‘That’s too much.’

“We’re very satisfied with what Cabell can do for our ballclub. We’re very fortunate to make this deal, where we didn’t hurt the big club.

“We’ve got to take stock and say our future is now. We’ve got to start looking at 1985.”

Cabell’s value to the Dodgers as a third baseman, however, remains to be seen. For one thing, Cabell, 35, hasn’t been seen at third base since 1983, when he played four games there for the Detroit Tigers.

The last time he played third in the National League was in 1981 for the Giants. He made seven errors in 22 games and had a fielding percentage of .854. With the Astros last year and so far this season, he was used exclusively as a first baseman, although he has made just one start in the last 15 games since Houston began playing rookie Glenn Davis at first.

“I’ve made mistakes before,” Cabell said, when asked if he had any qualms about returning to third. “But if they’re expecting a Gold Glove third baseman, they don’t have one.”

Cabell, who batted .310 while playing regularly last season, was hitting .243 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 59 games with Houston this season. He was the Astros’ most effective pinch-hitter, with six hits in 20 at-bats and six RBIs.

“I can’t remember,” said Manager Tom Lasorda, when asked the last time he’d seen Cabell play third.

“Did I say he was going to play third base? Sure, he can play third base, but he also can play first base and the outfield.

“I plan on putting him in different spots, get him as much playing time as we can.”

For the time being, Dave Anderson figures to remain the Dodger third baseman, although he was hitting .208 after going 0 for 5 Wednesday night.

“You have to look at the long haul,” said Campanis, when asked whether Anderson was hitting enough to play regularly.

“It’s not that we don’t think highly of Anderson. If he keeps swinging the bat, you can’t ask for a better third baseman defensively.

“But (Cabell) is a lifetime .277 hitter. If you need a base hit in a key situation, I’ll ask you, who would you rather have at the plate?”

Anderson, naturally, was asked his reaction to the trade. But when reporters gathered around Anderson’s locker before the game, Lasorda came out of his office, yelling in mock anger.

“Check the lineup card and see where he’s playing,” Lasorda said.

Since Cabell still was on a plane from Houston, it was a moot point. However, Cabell did arrive in time to put on a Dodger uniform and pinch-hit in the eighth inning, lining out to center field. He finished the game at first base.

Anderson said: “I’ll be playing third base, I know that. Because of Glenn Davis, (Cabell) was expendable there.

“I have no control over the situation. All I can do is play hard. Cabell can play a lot of positions. He’s a very good guy to have on a ballclub.”

Cabell, who lives in Anaheim and graduated from Harbor Junior College in San Pedro, requested the trade to Los Angeles, according to Astro President Al Rosen. But when he was playing for the Astros, Cabell frequently said how much he hated the Dodgers.

“Let’s see if he says it now,” Lasorda said of the former Astro captain.

Added Bill Russell: “He’s had his run-ins with Tommy, but that’s the way it is when you want to beat the other guy.

“Remember, we once picked up Juan Marichal, which just goes to show you.”

That was after Marichal, then pitching for the Giants, had gone after Dodger catcher John Roseboro with a bat.

Earlier this season, Cabell was called in Pittsburgh to testify before a federal grand jury investigating drug trafficking charges. Seven persons have been indicted in that investigation, none of them baseball players.

“We checked that out,” Campanis said. “He was involved only in trying to find out who the drug dealers were. He’s clean with the commissioner’s office.”