The Dodger Rotation Might Be in Jeopardy : Baseball: Pitchers Ojeda, Hershiser and Morgan could end up with different teams next season.

Hard times could be beginning for the Dodgers, who might soon learn that there are worse things than losing a one-game lead with four games remaining.

Such as, losing the heart of your league-best starting rotation.

When Bob Ojeda, Orel Hershiser and Mike Morgan left the visiting clubhouse at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park on Sunday with uncertain smiles, there were warning signs that they might not be walking into the Dodgertown clubhouse in Vero Beach next spring:

Ojeda, upset over being skipped during the final weeks of the season, said he will utilize a little-known clause in the players association’s basic agreement and force the Dodgers to trade him if he is not given a multiyear contract.

Ojeda has an option year remaining on his contract, but said he wants the security of a longer contract because he felt the insecurity of being a fifth starter during the last two weeks of the season. He was the club’s most consistent starter in the final eight weeks.

“I don’t want to say I’m automatically gone, that’s not right, because these people have been basically good to me,” said Ojeda, who went 4-1 with a 2.30 earned-run average in 11 starts after Aug. 2.

“But I looked back to how the rotation was skipped and flipped during the last weeks, and I don’t want to go through that again without security.

“I didn’t want to say anything about it at the time because I didn’t want to disrupt the team. But it really bothered me. Now I feel I have to look out for myself.”

Because Ojeda was traded by the New York Mets last winter in the middle of a long-term deal, he can demand a trade, which must happen by March 15 or he becomes a free agent. He would probably like three more years added to his option year.

--Hershiser, who has a chance to declare free agency for the first time in his eight big league seasons, has accepted that he could be playing for another team.

“I want to return, but if that is not possible, I’m willing to leave,” he said, adding that he thinks other teams will consider his shoulder sound.

“I do not think I’m a health risk anymore, and I think my performance has proved it,” he said. “The way I feel now--and I didn’t want to say this during the season to pump up any teams--I could pitch for a long time to come.”

Hershiser was asked whether he should show more loyalty to the the team that spent a lot of money and manpower helping him rehabilitate his shoulder during the season.

“When I signed my last three-year deal, it was a risk for me and a risk for them,” he said. “It just so happened that it didn’t turn out to be a good risk for the Dodgers. But that’s the nature of the game.”

Hershiser pitched several months before doctors predicted he would be able to. He gave up three earned runs in his last four starts and did not lose in 15 starts after June 25.

Some observers say Hershiser could command a three-year contract, something the Dodgers might be unwilling to give.

“I am very happy with the tremendous progress Orel has made this year,” said Fred Claire, Dodger vice president. “But is he the same Orel as he was at the close of 1988? No, he’s not.”

Among teams that would probably attract Hershiser, and vice versa, are the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves.

--Morgan ended the season saying what he always says. After two years of being relatively underpaid--he is the second-lowest paid pitcher on the staff at $650,000--he says he wants to test the free-agent market.

The only difference Sunday was, he was speaking with a 14-10 record and 2.78 earned-run average, including a 4-1 record in September. Only Ramon Martinez had more victories, and only Tim Belcher had a lower ERA.

“Sure, I don’t have to become a free agent, but I won’t take just anything to sign here,” said Morgan, who wants at least a four-year contract worth $3 million per year.

“I want to go somewhere that I can finally be the No. 1 or No. 2 pitcher,” Morgan said. “I want to go somewhere where I can go to spring training and be assured of a job, unlike what has happened here.”

The Dodgers might be reluctant to give him a long-term deal because of his lifetime losing record and because until this year, he did not win often in the second half of the season. The status of the eight other Dodgers eligible to leave the team this winter is a bit more predictable.

Eddie Murray probably will return if he will take a two-year contract. With Eric Karros still a year away from being able to help the team consistently, the Dodgers simply cannot replace Murray.

Mitch Webster and Jim Gott will probably be offered one-year contracts. Both played valuable supporting roles late in the season.

Jay Howell, Juan Samuel and Gary Carter are probably going to sign elsewhere, although Carter might retire. With all three, their decision to leave would probably be mutual.

The futures of Alfredo Griffin and John Candelaria depend on what is decided at the Dodgers’ annual organizational meetings next week in Arizona, although each will probably be given a chance to come to spring training and win a job.

The future of the contractually stable players will also be determined in those meetings, where the prime topic of conversation will be Kal Daniels.

For a second consecutive winter, Daniels figures to be traded. Only this time, Claire will probably do it.

Although Daniels has been one of the Dodgers’ steadiest pressure players, his home runs dropped from 27 to 17 and his RBIs from 94 to 73. And some teammates say they are not happy with his attitude, although their opinion was not a factor last winter when the popular Hubie Brooks was traded instead of Daniels.

Daniels could be packaged in a deal for a right-handed power hitter to give the lineup more balance.

The Dodgers lost their last two games that counted to left-handed pitchers, and three of their last four defeats were against left-handers.

The Dodgers will probably also agree to trade for or sign a top second baseman or third baseman, and could once again be interested in a bullpen stopper.

Claire now faces the task of getting two more victories from a team that could easily disintegrate.

Said Claire: “There is a big mountain out there.”