BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Ryan Luzinski Signs, Reports

The Dodgers’ new scouting regime completed its first big transaction Wednesday when it signed top draft pick Ryan Luzinski for a bonus of about $500,000.

Luzinski, a 220-pound catcher from Holy Cross High in Delran, N.J., will report to Great Falls (Mont.) of the Northwest rookie league today, one game after the start of their season.

Even though Luzinski was rated as the 19th player in the draft by one publication, he was available as the 32nd overall pick--the Dodgers’ first pick--because he was considered difficult to sign.

He already had a baseball scholarship to University of Miami, and his negotiator was his father, former major league Greg Luzinski.

“But we thought Ryan wanted to play for us, so we tried to get him signed as quickly as possible and get him out there,” said Terry Reynolds, Dodger scouting director, who was running his second draft.

Luzinski, who batted .525 with four home runs and 25 runs batted in for Holy Cross, said it was the Dodgers’ immediate interest that swayed him.

The Dodgers, who had six of the first 87 picks, have signed three of them, including Dan Melendez, Pepperdine first baseman, and Dwain Bostic, San Diego Morse High shortstop.

The most notable unsigned player is UCLA outfielder Michael Moore, the 36th overall pick.

According to sources in Boston, a proposed trade between the Dodgers and Red Sox fell through Wednesday when the Dodgers did not offer enough in return. Although names of players were not revealed, it is believed the Red Sox would trade second baseman Jody Reed, but wanted some of the Dodgers’ young talent in return. The Dodgers are looking to deal veterans such as outfielder Kal Daniels. . . . Daniels has started against only one of four left-handers on this trip after being benched Wednesday against Tom Glavine. . . . David Justice, the Braves’ hottest hitter with 13 RBIs during his last nine games, left the game Wednesday after three innings because of a sore left knee. He will undergo an MRI today to test the severity of the injury. . . . Carlos Hernandez was treated on the field after hurting his surgically repaired left shoulder while sliding into third base in the second inning. But he stayed in the game and later said he was fine. With a single in three at-bats, Hernandez has hit safely in 12 of 16 starts.