DODGERS : Candelaria Signed; Carter Must Wait a Day

What was supposed to be a day of calm in the Dodgers’ clubhouse became another day of confusion Monday when one player was added to the team, another player was almost added and a third was placed in limbo.

Left-handed reliever John Candelaria was signed, taking Mickey Hatcher’s spot on the roster, but catcher Gary Carter could not sign because there was no room available on the roster.

The Dodgers had planned to make room by trading a player. Sources say that player is left-handed reliever Dave Walsh, who either will be traded or waived today. Carter apparently has agreed to extend his contract deadline one day to allow Claire to find a spot for Walsh.

“I have talked to Gary (Carter) and we are anticipating a move,” Claire said. “It’s not a move we necessarily want to make, but a move we have to make to clear up a spot for Gary on the roster.

“One player on the roster now will not be on the roster (today).”

Walsh said he will not be surprised if he is that player. With Candelaria in camp, Walsh has appeared in only three spring games, totaling 4 2/3 innings. No one who pitched for the Dodgers in the major leagues last year has received less work.

Walsh, who was 1-0 with a 3.86 earned-run average in 16 2/3 major league innings last year after eight seasons in the minors, says he wants to remain with the Dodgers. But he realizes his lack of control over the situation.

“I understand that it is out of my hands,” he said. “I can’t force them to do anything. I just hope I go somewhere that I can pitch in the major leagues. Because last year, I finally proved that I could do it.”

Like Walsh, many other Dodgers in the clubhouse figured something was going on Monday. But most thought that the player to be traded was pitcher Mike Morgan, who lost his spot in the rotation because of the winter acquisitions of Kevin Gross and Bob Ojeda.

Morgan figures to be traded before opening day if no Dodger starter is injured before then.

Morgan said that if he cannot stay with the Dodgers during the season, he would prefer to be traded as soon as possible.

“I don’t want to join a team on April 8, where it would take me longer to get used to the team,” Morgan said. “But I feel I can be one of the Dodgers’ five starting pitchers, and I don’t want to stay here just to be in the bullpen as an insurance policy.

“I guess I’m used to this happening. Even though I felt I had a pretty good two seasons here, it seems my role is always the traded role. I’m always the guy to be traded.”

Candelaria, who pitched for four organizations in the past two years, hopes he has found stability. With Monday’s decision, the Laguna Hills resident can live in his house during the season.

“It will be about a 50-mile drive but, man, I can handle that,” Candelaria said.

In celebration of his guaranteed $500,000 contract taking effect Monday, he pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in the Dodgers’ 5-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Entering in the sixth inning with runners on base, he struck out left-hander Dave Justice. That is the role he has been hired to fill.

“This closes the case on getting a left-handed reliever,” Manager Tom Lasorda said. “We wanted somebody to face the league’s top left-handed hitters in the late innings, and we’ve got one.”

Candelaria, 37, was 7-6 with a 3.95 ERA and five saves for Minnesota and Toronto last year. This included ending the year with an 0-3 record and 5.48 ERA for Toronto, which used him as both starter and reliever in the pennant race.

Candelaria is 1-0 with a 4.00 ERA and one save this spring.

“I’m a reliever. My starting days are long over,” said Candelaria, who is relieved that he will rarely be scheduled to pitch more than one inning a night. “What they are going to ask me to do, who knows? Maybe they can get a couple of more years out of me. This is an ideal situation.”

Dodger Notes

Manager Tom Lasorda said he will pick an opening-day starter today. Tim Belcher is still the favorite, although Ramon Martinez gave up one earned run in 5 1/3 innings Monday. . . . Mickey Hatcher’s teammates said goodby in a unique way, by writing messages in blue magic marker on his jersey.

Stan Javier and Mike Scioscia did not play against Atlanta but were sound enough to work out after suffering leg bruises Sunday when hit by pitched balls against the Braves. . . . Jeff Hamilton missed a second start because of pain in his right hand after receiving a cortisone injection.