Dodgers Sign Randolph for 2 Years : Veteran of 13 Yankee Seasons Will Replace Sax at Second Base

It wasn’t a straight trade, but 17 days after Steve Sax signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees, the Dodgers Saturday completed what essentially became a swap of second basemen by signing free agent Willie Randolph, a Yankee for the last 13 seasons, to a 2-year guaranteed contract.

Terms of the deal were undisclosed, but a source said Randolph--who was paid $875,000 by the Yankees last season--signed for a total of about $1.775 million, well below the $4-million, 3-year deal Sax signed with the Yankees on Nov. 23.

Who got the better of the Sax-for-Randolph exchange?

“It remains to be seen,” said Randolph, whose arrival completes the rebuilding of the right side of the Dodger infield that began a week ago with the trade for first baseman Eddie Murray from the Baltimore Orioles.

Murray, in fact, was instrumental in Randolph’s decision to select the Dodgers over the Montreal Expos, according to agent Ron Shapiro, who represents both players. Murray called Randolph and urged him to sign with the Dodgers, Shapiro said.

“Both Sax and I have to make adjustments,” Randolph said. “I’m not looking to compete with Steve Sax. He made the decision to come to New York.

“Everything is speculation now. As the season unfolds, I guess you guys (reporters) will have some fun with that, but it’s not my concern right now.”

It was Fred Claire’s concern, however, to find a replacement for Sax, and after being rebuffed in efforts to sign free agents Tom Herr and Ron Oester, or trade for Wally Backman, the Dodger executive vice president reached terms with Randolph, a five-time American League All-Star.

The deal wasn’t made, Claire said, until after Randolph--who tore cartilage in his left knee 2 years ago, had a torn ligament in his left wrist last April and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in October--passed a medical examination in New York earlier in the day.

“We’re satisfied with the findings of the physical reports on his knee,” Claire said. “He also had a little problem with his wrist--it’s fine now. There’s no problem.”

Randolph, 34, is 5 years older than Sax, who will be 29 next month. And while Randolph is coming off a season in which he hit a career-low .230 and played in just 110 games, Sax played in a career-high 160 games, batted .277 and was fourth in the league in hits with 175.

Sax also stole 42 bases, fourth-highest total in the league. Randolph hasn’t stolen more than 16 bases in a season since 1980, when he stole 30.

Nonetheless, Claire, citing Randolph’s career on-base percentage of .370, said the one-time Yankee captain is suited to be the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter. He also cited Randolph’s good reputation.

“I must have talked to 100 people about Willie Randolph,” Claire said, “and he must have more supporters than just about anybody in baseball.”

Randolph said he sees no reason why he can’t approach his numbers from 2 seasons ago, when he hit .305--his only season over .300--finished fourth in the league in on-base percentage (.411) and was ninth in walks (82). He also led the Yankees in runs scored (96) and drove in a career-high 67 runs from the No. 2 spot.

He did all of that despite missing 26 games after he started in the All-Star game, then went on the disabled list the next day with a knee injury. Without him, the Yankees went 11-15.

Last season, Randolph said he hurt his wrist in April but went 6 more weeks before asking for another medical opinion. At that time, surgery was discussed, but instead he had an injection of anti-inflammatory medication and then underwent therapy.

He kept playing on a bad knee at the end of the season, which he finished by going hitless in his last 30 at-bats.

“After the injuries, I struggled,” Randolph said. “Everybody knew I wasn’t 100%. I wasn’t myself.

“When healthy, I produced. The statistics speak for themselves. In my heart and soul, I know I can show I’m still one of the best second basemen in baseball.”

Randolph, who spent his first season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, has batted behind such great leadoff men as Mickey Rivers and Rickey Henderson, but when called upon to lead off, he has done well. He said he welcomes a return to that role, which is suited to a player who walks as often and strikes out as infrequently as he does.

“Leading off is one of my strengths,” Randolph said. “I understand the job of getting on base. I’m very comfortable hitting up there.”

To sign Randolph, the Dodgers had to beat out the Expos, who envisioned Randolph either starting or platooning with the left-handed hitting Tom Foley. Montreal offered Randolph a 2-year deal at $800,000 per season, but late Friday night, Randolph decided to go with the Dodgers.

Money wasn’t the deciding factor, said Randolph, who expressed his admiration for the Dodger organization.

“Frankly, L.A. was the more exciting setting,” said agent Shapiro, adding that Murray had been very persuasive in a long telephone conversation with Randolph. Two other Dodgers, Rick Dempsey and John Shelby, also are represented by Shapiro.

Shapiro said he had contacted the Dodgers even before Sax signed with the Yankees to inform them that they were one of four or five teams Randolph would have an interest in joining.

That interest wasn’t reciprocated until after Sax had left and the other leading candidates to replace him--Herr, Oester, Backman--had been excised from the Dodger list. Claire repeatedly said that he would have been comfortable starting next season with Mariano Duncan.

Claire was asked which team he believed came out ahead in the relocation of second basemen.

“Time will tell that,” Claire said. “I can only say I’m delighted to have Willie.

“We wanted to sign Steve Sax. He made the decision to sign with the Yankees. That was a decision he made, not a decision we made. We had to move on.

“I think with Eddie and Willie, we’ve improved the ballclub over the one we fielded at the end of the 1988 season. We’ve very definitely improved ourselves.”

Dodger Notes

Willie Randolph, one of the top defensive second basemen in baseball, said that despite his knee problems, he has lost little of his range. “To be very honest with you, I don’t think it’s hurt me,” Randolph said. “Even with the injuries, I thought I had my best defensive year last year. I’ve been told that I haven’t lost much at all. When you’re older, you make adjustments. You just don’t go on raw speed. If I’ve lost a step, I make up for it by my knowledge of the hitters.” . . . Of course, he’ll be learning a whole new set of hitters in the National League, but Randolph said he doesn’t fear the switch of leagues. “In some ways, I think I’m suited to be a National League player. I’m aggressive, I like to move around, I’m a fastball hitter. And I do what’s necessary to win,” he said. . . . To make room on the 40-man roster for Randolph, the Dodgers sent pitcher William Brennan outright to Albuquerque. Executive vice president Fred Claire said, however, that Brennan--who was 14-8 with the Dukes last season--has an excellent chance of making the Dodger roster in the spring. . . . Claire spoke to Tom Reich, the agent for pitcher Mario Soto, but said it was still uncertain whether Soto has indeed retired or will show up at Vero Beach in February. . . . Correction: There are three, not two, teams in the National League that had three players who hit 20 or more home runs last season. In addition to the Mets and Dodgers, the Pirates had three: Barry Bonds (24), Bobby Bonilla (24) and Andy Van Slyke (25).