Dodgers Down to Four Unsigned Free Agents

The Dodgers eliminated three of their free-agent question marks Thursday, leaving second baseman Steve Sax, shortstop Alfredo Griffin, pitcher Mario Soto and right fielder Mike Marshall, who filed for free agency Thursday, to be signed before the club’s deadline tonight.

Executive Vice President Fred Claire reiterated that he will end negotiations at that point, avoiding the possibility of bidding wars, since all free agents become eligible to receive offers from any of the 26 teams as of midnight, EST.

On Thursday, Claire and club counsel Sam Fernandez reached contract agreements with utility player Mickey Hatcher and pitcher Alejandro Pena, and officially notified Jesse Orosco’s agent, Alan Meersand, that they will not offer Orosco a contract nor reserve the right to offer arbitration in December, thus severing ties with the 31-year-old relief pitcher.

The decision was not a surprise, particularly after Meersand was publicly critical of the way Orosco was used during the season and treated during the negotiating process, charging that the club kept putting off an offer and lacked the guts to tell Orosco where he stood.

“I stand by what I said,” Meersand said. “The Dodgers forced us to waste a lot of needless time during which we could have been out talking to other clubs.”

Orosco formally filed for free agency Thursday. The Dodgers are left with only one experienced left- hander, Ricky Horton, in the bullpen. But Claire is believed to have some interest in Ken Dayley, the St. Louis Cardinals’ reliever who is a free agent until Dec. 16 because of the Collusion II decision.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have now retained their two save leaders of 1988 via the agreements with Pena and Jay Howell, who came to terms Monday. Pena, who converted 12 of 14 save chances while earning $400,000, received a 2-year contract that gives the Dodgers an option on a third year, similar to what Howell received.

A source said Pena is guaranteed $2,150,000 for 2 years and $2,850,000 if the Dodgers pick up a third year. The $950,000 average represents a hefty raise generated by what the Dodgers perceived to be widespread interest in Pena, particularly from New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

Hatcher, the valuable role player who earned $300,000 this season, agreed to a 1-year contract for $450,000.

Now down to Sax, Griffin, Soto and Marshall, Claire said he would not extend his deadline.

“We’ve spent a lot of time on the negotiating process and made progress,” he said. “The opportunity is there to sign all of them. There comes a time in any negotiation when you reach a point of decision, when you draw a line. One more day or 30 more days wouldn’t make a difference.”

Is he concerned about replacing Sax and Griffin, the heart of his infield, if they do not sign? Claire conceded that he has given it thought, but said:

“The important thing here is that there is a limit on what we can do and how far we can go (financially).”