Dodgers Acquire Phil Garner, 38, From the Astros

The Dodgers’ season of change continued Friday when they acquired veteran utility player Phil Garner, 38, from the Houston Astros for a player to be named later this season.

Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, said it would not be someone on the Dodgers’ current major league roster.

The Astros’ most pressing needs, according to Manager Hal Lanier, are middle relief pitching, shortstop and catching. Brad Wellman, hitting .338, and Craig Shipley, .232, are the Dodgers’ Triple-A shortstops.

Claire, who has made six major moves in two months on the job, said the trade was not prompted by shortstop Mariano Duncan’s knee injury Thursday night. But Garner will take the spot vacated by Duncan, who was put on the 15-day disabled list after being spiked while covering second base on a steal.

All Garner, a 13-year veteran who can play second base, third base and shortstop, had to do to join the Dodgers Friday was switch clubhouses. He brings a .223 batting average and the balance of a $450,000 salary.

“I had a feeling I was going to be traded, but I was a little surprised it was the Dodgers,” said Garner, who has a one-year contract. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll play. I’m taking it a year at a time now.”

Garner is the third veteran utility player Claire has acquired.

In April, free agent infielder-outfielder Mickey Hatcher joined the club and has contributed greatly. Last week, free agent Danny Heep was signed and is working into shape in the minor leagues before being brought up. Claire indicated that Heep may join the club within the next week.

Garner gives the Dodgers a surplus of infielders but Claire said that Garner’s acquisition was not a preliminary to a bigger trade. And Manager Tom Lasorda said he will use Garner at third base, shortstop, second base, first base and as a pinch-hitter.

“A player like Phil, we can utilize in a number of ways,” Claire said. “He has been a good pinch-hitter, although not last season (when he hit .188) but in his career (.305 in six seasons as an Astro). Plus, he can play second, third and a little shortstop.

“I’m trying to do what we need to improve ourselves. I’m not going to wait for the phone to ring. I’ll do the things we have to do to win.”

Garner was expendable because the Astros decided to give the starting third base job to rookie Chuck Jackson, a better fielder and considered a better hitter.

Claire said he had considered activating Bill Russell, the Dodgers’ 38-year-old infield coach who retired after last season, to replace Duncan. But he negotiated most of Thursday with Dick Wagner, the Astros’ general manager, and came to agreement after the Dodgers’ 6-4 11-inning win.

“I thought about a lot of different things,” Claire said. “I talked to Bill (Russell). He said he’d help the club any way he could.”

Said Russell: “I feel I’m ready to play. Fred talked to me. It’s just a matter that Phil had spring training and I didn’t. He’s ready to play right away.”

When Duncan returns from the disabled list, in two weeks at the earliest, and Heep is ready to join the club, the Dodgers probably will have to make two personnel moves.

It has been widely speculated that Ken Landreaux, hitting .216 and making $737,500, will be released. But the other move will be a tough choice for Claire and Lasorda.

“I would not even attempt to project what might happen,” Claire said. “Things change so quickly. But I do think Phil can help us. He’s a player I like. He’s intense and motivated and been a part of a winner everywhere he’s played.”