Baseball Winter Meetings : Bids on Stubbs Open Dodgers to a Bid on Brock

Those were not trade winds that chilled Mission Valley late Monday afternoon, sending baseball executives, scouts and media scurrying from the pool area of the Town and Country Hotel.

Without an interleague trading deadline, baseball’s winter meetings went through a second day without a deal.

The Dodgers, looking for a right-handed hitter to platoon with center fielder Ken Landreaux, aren’t close to acquiring one, according to special assignment scout Mel Didier, a liaison to Vice President Al Campanis.

“All we’ve been doing is a little sparring,” Didier said. “No one feels any pressure to deal (now that the deadlines have been eliminated).”

The Dodgers, their needs diminished by the development of shortstop Mariano Duncan and the acquisition of third baseman Bill Madlock, have met with 11 clubs, Campanis said.

The only result, he suggested, is a refining of what they may be willing to part with.

Reluctant to deal a pitcher because of the uncertainty surrounding Alejandro Pena’s rehabilitation, Campanis indicated that there has been considerable interest in Franklin Stubbs, prompting the Dodgers to re-evaluate their first base situation.

It appears that Greg Brock may now be expendable.

“I’d say that Brock still has the job,” Campanis said, “but enough other clubs have asked about Stubbs to make us think, ‘Hey, we know he’s good, but maybe he’s better than we think he is.”’

Stubbs batted .280 with 32 homers and 93 RBIs at Albuquerque. Brock, who platooned with Enos Cabell during the second half of the season, hit .251 with 21 homers and 66 RBIs for the Dodgers.

Asked what his reaction would be to a trade proposal including Brock, Campanis said he would have to consider it.

“It’s like having two quarterbacks,” he said, suggesting that the competition could be more negative than positive. He also said he would like to see Stubbs in spring training before making a decision, adding that he will know more about the Dodger trade prospects in a couple of days.

Tony Attanasio, Brock’s agent, said he told Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda Monday that his client does not want to be traded.

“But if he’s going to be platooned again,” Attanasio said, “then he would rather be traded.”

The question is, for whom?

Montreal’s Andre Dawson, who is 31 and makes $1.2 million a year, is definitely out.

The Dodgers and Expos discussed Dawson briefly, but Expo General Manager Murray Cook told the Montreal media that the Dodgers were concerned that Dawson’s salary would distort their payroll.

The Texas Rangers reportedly offered outfielder Gary Ward in a meeting with the Dodgers, but Campanis said there was some doubt if Ward could play the position on a regular basis. The Rangers are believed to want a pitcher in return.

The trade drought is expected to end with the arrival today of George Steinbrenner. The New York Yankee owner is expected to approve two deals.

The first would send designated hitter Don Baylor and pitchers Joe Cowley and Rod Scurry to the Chicago White Sox for left-handed pitcher Britt Burns and two minor leaguers.

The deal will be expanded once the White Sox sign free agent Carlton Fisk, whose attorney, Jerry Kapstein, has been negotiating with Chicago co-owner Eddie Einhorn in La Jolla. Fisk then will be traded to the Yankees for catcher Ron Hassey.

The second would send Baltimore outfielder Gary Roenicke to the Yankees as a replacement for Baylor. The Orioles would get pitcher Rich Bordi and second baseman Rex Hudler in return.

The Dodgers listened to a presentation from free agent Kurt Bevacqua, the San Diego utility man who clutch hits in the last two seasons have made Lasorda pay for his demeaning comment that he would send a limousine to see that Bevacqua reached the park on time.

“Kurt made a presentation, but I don’t know if we’ll do anything,” Campanis said, adding that Enos Cabell, Bob Bailor, Dave Anderson and Bill Russell already give the Dodgers too many utility infielders.

from Angel Manager Gene Mauch:

--On the Angels’ near-miss in 1985: “We just didn’t match up very well against Yankee pitching or Kansas City pitching. I’ll concede that the kid (Kansas City’s Bret Saberhagen) is tough to beat, but I’d like to be more consistent against their left-handers. It’s always puzzled me why Brian Downing, who is a great hitter, doesn’t just mash left-handed pitching.”

--On Donnie Moore: “I’d like to be a little more comfortable about it, but I’m satisfied he’ll be with us. I don’t know how much (money) or how long it will take. We really do need him.”

--On his role: “A lot of people said I did a good job with the Angels last year, but I’ve done a good job before. I’d like to do a great job once--and do it again.

On his off-season: “I put on four pounds during Thanksgiving and my kneee started hurting. I knew it was time to say, ‘Let’s go.’ I’ll be spending the rest of the winter doing the same thing--waiting.”