Stubbs’ Wish Comes True With Deal : Dodgers: He goes to Houston for left-handed pitcher Terry Wells. Dodgers rally to beat Yankees, 4-3.

The Dodgers granted Franklin Stubbs his wish Sunday, trading him to the Houston Astros for Terry Wells, a pitching prospect they hope eventually will answer their wish.

Wells, 26, is a hard thrower who eventually could fill the Dodger need for a left-handed bullpen stopper. He will begin the year at triple-A Albuquerque, after splitting time last season between double-A Columbus (Ga.) and triple-A Tucson, going 2-8 with a 5.21 ERA and 67 walks in 95 innings.

Despite those poor numbers, Dodger scouts like him because he strikes people out. He has 458 strikeouts in 532 1/3 career innings, or nearly eight strikeouts per nine innings.

“Major league arm, major league head, but control problems,” said Darrin Fletcher, the Dodger catcher who caught Wells when both were at the University of Illinois. “But, who knows, it seems like everybody with control problems who comes to the Dodgers, they get with the pitching coaches and put on that blue and something happens. It could happen again.”

Said Fred Claire, Dodger vice president: “He has had control problems, but he has a good arm. There is always a risk, but we think he is worth it.”

Stubbs, a first baseman-outfielder, certainly thought the trade was worth it. After spending his entire pro career with the Dodgers--from a No. 1 draft choice in June, 1982, to the past four years in the big leagues--last year he became stuck behind Eddie Murray. After hitting 23 homers for the Dodgers in 1986, followed by a 16-homer season in 1987, Stubbs felt he deserved better.

The Dodgers probably would have traded him last winter, when he first requested a deal, but Stubbs was coming off knee surgery, and teams did not want to take a chance. He has since shown that his knees are fine, and he should fit in with the Astros as a backup first baseman to Glenn Davis and insurance for right fielder Glenn Wilson and rookie left fielder Eric Anthony.

“I’ve had good times and bad times with the Dodgers . . . but I’ve got a World Series ring and a big trophy, and the good times have been more than the bad,” Stubbs said. “I’m just lucky they are giving me a chance to go somewhere and play.”

Stubbs’ departure means that Mike Sharperson has a good chance to make the team as an extra infielder/outfielder. The signs were clear Sunday when Sharperson took grounders at shortstop for the first time during batting practice. Sharperson also was told by the Dodger coaching staff to break in a first baseman’s mitt.

Sharperson already can play second base, third base and the outfield and serves as the third-string catcher.

“I’ll do anything to stay here,” said Sharperson, who has spent parts of three years in the big leagues with a career .241 average. He started the 1987 season as the Toronto Blue Jays second baseman before falling on hard times.

Kal Daniels’ return to the Dodger lineup Sunday, while not spectacular, was just what the Dodgers wanted to see. In their 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees, he was not tested with any tough chances in left field, but he ran well to first base on a grounder and looked healthy enough for four innings to project him as being ready for opening day next week.

“I will play every day until opening day, and then I’ll be there,” said Daniels after playing in his first game since Aug. 7 because of knee surgery. “It feels great. There are no problems.”

Daniels’ return, coupled with Kirk Gibson’s improving health, raised a question that may be heard throughout the summer: What happens if both Daniels and Gibson are healthy at the same time? Considering Juan Samuel and Hubie Brooks are in center and right field, respectively, is there room for both Daniels and Gibson?

“I’m not worried about center field or right field . . . I’m worried about left field and about Kal,” Daniels said.

Sources say that if both Daniels and Gibson are healthy, the Dodgers will find a place for them to play. That likely would mean moving Hubie Brooks to third base to compete with Jeff Hamilton. That scenario is probably at least a month from occuring.

Batting twice against left-hander Dave LaPoint Sunday, Daniels grounded out on a check-swing bouncer in front of home plate in the first inning, and just missed beating out a grounder to shortstop in the fourth. He was batting fifth, but will move to No. 3 in the batting order if he is still running well on opening day. The Dodgers like his speed in front of cleanup hitter Eddie Murray, and Hubie Brooks’s RBI potential behind Murray.

The Dodgers’ victory Sunday, on a ninth-inning RBI grounder by Chris Gwynn, evened their spring record at 3-3. Dodger starter Fernando Valenzuela struggled against a squad of mostly Yankee minor leaguers, allowing three runs in four innings. Orel Hershiser then threw four scoreless innings, followed by a scoreless inning from Jay Howell, who said he felt as good as he’s felt this spring.

The Dodger offense was led by Willie Randolph, who hit a two-run homer, and then was seen outside the Dodger clubhouse in a car filled with suitcases. Several observers wondered if he had been traded, at which point Randolph began unloading the car and laughing.

“April Fools, man,” he said.

Donald Fehr and Mark Belanger, baseball’s union bosses, met for two hours with the Dodgers Sunday morning to discuss the new Basic Agreement, which will be voted upon next week. Afterward Fehr said he expected a resolution as early as today concerning possible 27-man rosters to start the season.

Negotiations on the proposed change are being delayed because of technicalities involved in releasing the names of the extra players, and sending those players to the minor leagues once the three-week early season period ends.

“There was a lot of discussion on this team about how badly we need the 27th man,” said Tim Belcher, Dodger player representative. “The issue is not completely dead, and we are glad, because a veteran team like ours, we need those extra players early.”

Dodger Notes

Tom Lasorda’s annual April Fools joke was played on Lenny Harris. Lasorda summoned Harris into his office Sunday morning and informed him that he was being sent to triple-A Albuquerque. Observers said Harris’ chin had reached the floor when he was finally asked to check the date . . . Today’s Dodger starter against the Atlanta Braves in West Palm Beach is Mike Morgan, who is fighting for the spot as the fifth starter. Also scheduled to pitch will be Don Aase, who has been given new hope due to the early struggles of Jim Gott. In a minor-league game in Vero Beach, Gott will throw three innings for the first time this spring.