Dodgers Are Pursuing Eddie Murray, Oester

Fred Claire has indicated that he will go a distance in his bid to rebuild the right side of the Dodger infield.

Tuesday, for instance, the Dodgers’ executive vice president flew to Chicago for a meeting with Roland Hemond, his Baltimore Orioles counterpart, on a trade that would bring first baseman Eddie Murray to his hometown of Los Angeles.

And Wednesday, Claire returned to his Dodger Stadium office to continue phone negotiations regarding Murray and free agent second baseman Ron Oester of the Cincinnati Reds.

Oester would replace Steve Sax, who recently signed with the New York Yankees. Murray would replace a platoon of Franklin Stubbs and Mickey Hatcher.

This latest series of talks with the Orioles began in early November during the general managers’ meetings at Palm Springs.

“We’re just exploring possibilities, as we are with other clubs,” Claire said Wednesday of the negotiations with Hemond.

“Whether it will produce anything for us is still a large question mark.”

Apparently, however, this is one exploration that Claire remains “bound and determined” to complete, a member of the organization said Wednesday. “Eddie Murray has been something of an obsession for Fred since he took this job (in April 1987), and I think he’s going to get him,” the source added.

It will be expensive.

Murray, who will be 33 in February, is guaranteed $2.5 million in 1989, $2.7 million in 1990 and $2.8 million in 1991.

An important aspect of the current negotiations, it is believed, involves an attempt by the Dodgers to have the Orioles retain some of that salary, which is why club counsel Sam Fernandez accompanied Claire on his overnight trip to Chicago.

A trade for Murray is also likely to cost the Dodgers at least two of their top prospects--outfielder Mike Devereaux and shortstop Juan Bell.

The Dodgers, according to a source, are reluctant to trade Bell but would do so believing that Jose Oferman has moved past Bell as their shortstop of the future and that Bell may have the same temperament as his older brother, George, the often controversial outfielder with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Orioles are also demanding a pitcher, said by a member of that organization Wednesday to be Tim Leary, but the Dodgers are apparently unwilling to deal a starter of Leary’s stature because of the physical uncertainty of John Tudor and Fernando Valenzuela.

Murray, as a 10-year major league veteran who has spent his last 5 or more with the same club, has the right of consent over a trade, but he would jump at the chance to return home, several friends said Wednesday.

His attorney, Ron Shapiro of Baltimore, is currently on a trip to Israel. An assistant, Michael Maas, confirmed that the Orioles have been talking to several clubs in an attempt to move the high-salaried Murray, who hit 28 homers and drove in 84 runs amid the Orioles’ worst season, but said the team has yet to approach his office to get Murray’s approval.

Hemond, who was in Chicago to speak at an amateur baseball convention, said his meeting with Claire was no different than a phone conversation.

“It’s all preliminary and exploratory,” he insisted, adding that the clubs could continue talks during next week’s winter baseball convention at Atlanta.

Claire will leave Saturday. It appears conceivable that he could reach a contract accord with Oester before then. Myles Shoda, who works with Ed Keating in representing Oester, said Wednesday that if it hadn’t been for the delay caused by Claire’s trip to Chicago, “we might have an agreement.”

Oester, 32, made $290,000 in salary and incentives last year, when he rebounded from major surgery on his left knee to hit .280.

Claire continues to describe Oester as only one of several options and continues to include Mariano Duncan, reiterating Wednesday that he is receiving strong reports on Duncan’s performances in the Dominican Winter League.

The best of the other free-agent options, Jim Gantner of the Milwaukee Brewers and Scott Fletcher of the Texas Rangers, are expected to re-sign with their former clubs. Fletcher, in fact, agreed in principle Wednesday. Claire acknowledged that a trade for a second baseman appears difficult.

Dodger Notes

The Dodgers have continued to talk with attorney Arthur Rosenberg, who represents Mike Schmidt, a free-agent option at first base. Schmidt has been offered a conditional contract by the Philadelphia Phillies calling for a $300,000 guarantee and incentives that could raise the total to $1.9 million.

A source close to the Cleveland Indians said that club will present former Dodger left-hander Jesse Orosco a firm offer today. . . . The Dodgers announced that former pitching star Claude Osteen has rejoined the organization as pitching coach at double-A San Antonio.