Dodgers Show ‘Preliminary Interest’ in Joyner : Baseball: First baseman’s agent says club has contacted him, but Cardinals are top suitors. Angels still in the running.

Wally Joyner’s agent said Monday the Dodgers had “indicated preliminary interest” in discussing Joyner’s future, but Dodger officials downplayed the possibility they would sign the Angel first baseman.

Barry Axelrod said the Dodgers, unsure Eddie Murray will accept a one-year contract and unsure that prospects Eric Karros and Henry Rodriguez are ready for the major leagues, last week showed interest in Joyner as an alternative at first base. However, it’s believed that should Murray continue to insist on a two-year deal, the Dodgers would seek a relatively inexpensive and short-term solution until Karros or Rodriguez could step into the lineup. Joyner is seeking a four-year deal in the $16-million range.

“You never say no. We are not ruling out people, but there are several factors here,” Dodger Executive Vice President Fred Claire said. “Do we have interest in retaining Eddie? Yes. Is the length of the contract important? Yes. Do we have a young player coming up who can be a regular player for us? Yes.”

The Cardinals remain among the top suitors for Joyner, who hit .301 and drove in 96 runs last season. Axelrod said about a half-dozen serious contenders have emerged, with the Angels still in the running. He said a “surprise team” is also in contention but wouldn’t elaborate.

“St. Louis is definitely on our list,” said Axelrod, who hoped to reschedule a meeting with Cardinal officials that was canceled last week because of a schedule conflict. “Our talks have been preliminary so far, but there’s mutual interest and we’re sorting things out. We haven’t really gotten to numbers. . .

“There has been continued discussion with the Mets, but I would characterize it at this point as the Mets keeping their hat in the ring. Not to disparage New York, but New York is not as attractive a venue to Wally (as other cities) and we’ve let them know.”

The Angels’ pursuit of the “prime-time free agent” that Senior Vice President Whitey Herzog declared they would seek is likely to begin in earnest this week, when Herzog journeys to Anaheim for a strategy meeting that will include owners Gene and Jackie Autry. Dennis Gilbert, who represents Bobby Bonilla and Danny Tartabull, two of the prime free agents in this year’s market, said he planned to call Herzog on Wednesday to arrange a meeting in the near future.

Bonilla and Gilbert spoke to the Phillies Saturday in Philadelphia and the Mets on Sunday in New York, and Bonilla will accompany Gilbert to California. Gilbert, who is based in Beverly Hills and has long-standing friendships with Herzog and Angel President Richard Brown, plans to speak to the Angels, Pirates and Cardinals about Bonilla this week. Tartabull could also figure prominently in his talks with the Angels.

“I may be speaking about both or one,” Gilbert said from Montgomery, Ala., where he is representing another superstar client--Jose Canseco--in a lawsuit. “There will be a meeting. I’m not sure yet of the substance.”

Gilbert said the Angels had much to offer Bonilla or Tartabull. “They’ve got first-class ownership and management and they’re good people,” Gilbert said.

Bonilla recently rejected a four-year, $18.5-million offer from the Pirates, and the Mets reportedly might offer Bonilla--a New York native--$28 million over five years. Asked if a long-term contract worth $5 million or more annually would put Bonilla beyond the Angels’ financial reach, Angel Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien replied: “It probably puts him in the White House as a cabinet member to help pay off the national debt.”

O’Brien said the Angels’ priorities are to re-sign Joyner, right-hander Kirk McCaskill and shortstop Dick Schofield. He said he had spoken with Marvin Demoff, who represents McCaskill, and expects to continue their discussions. Demoff could not be reached Monday, but it’s known McCaskill last week talked to the Baltimore Orioles, who are said to be close to making him an offer.

O’Brien also said he had exchanged numbers with Schofield’s agent, Dan Grigsby, but added, “I can’t say we’re close” to reaching an agreement. Grigsby said he hasn’t heard from the Angels since Oct. 18, when he presented a counterproposal to them after they rejected his initial terms.

“I keep reading they consider re-signing Dick a priority and they’re pursuing him aggressively, but I certainly wouldn’t describe it that way,” Grigsby said.