BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Division Race Will Dictate Trade Desire

There are no trades in the works for the Dodgers, although that could change if they challenge the San Francisco Giants for the National League West championship, according to Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president.

“(It depends on) where we are and what are needs are,” Claire said. “If we were to have an injury or get to a situation where we were a few games out the first part of September or late August, all of those things will dictate (a possible trade). But as far as reaching out to try and fill any one position or any spot in our pitching picture, no, I’m not there.”

Claire said he was not interested in a trade for Fred McGriff, who was traded by the San Diego Padres on Sunday to the Atlanta Braves for three top prospects.

“It was clear that (the Padres) were going to get two or three top prospects, and I am not interesting in giving up top prospects,” Claire said. “I’m interested in Eric Karros continuing to play first base for the Los Angeles Dodgers.”

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Announcer Vin Scully walked by Tom Candiotti in the clubhouse and said jokingly, “Hello, Lucky.” After seven consecutive no-decisions, Candiotti won Sunday, 2-1, over the Montreal Expos. “You could tell in the dugout during the fifth and sixth innings the players were pressing because they wanted to score so bad, and they were trying so hard. Then, when they did, it was a . . . relief to me and the whole team. It was like it took the monkey off their backs.”

Candiotti, who had pitched well enough to win all seven of his no-decisions, has a 4-5 record but a 2.92 earned-run average, best among the starters.

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Billy DeLury III, the son of Dodger traveling secretary Billy DeLury, died Sunday at Centinela Hospital Medical Center at 29. Services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Monterey Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the All Saints AIDS Service Center, 126 West Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena, 91105.

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Claire said that Darryl Strawberry, who is on the disabled list because of his surgically repaired back, might not play again this season. . . . Tim Wallach, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a broken rib--the first time he has been on the disabled list--is already making plans to come off. “He is saying that when it gets to 12 games he wants to go down to (double-A) San Antonio and swing a bat,” said trainer Bill Buhler said. Wallach came back three days after he fell into a concrete photographer’s wall and hurt his back, his side and his thigh and pinched a nerve in his neck. . . . Taylor John, the son of former pitcher Tommy John, sang the national anthem before Monday night’s game.