BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Cubs Win, Then Trade Assenmacher

After the Dodgers 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs Friday, the Cubs announced they had traded left-handed reliever Paul Assenmacher to the New York Yankees as part of a three-team trade with the Kansas City Royals.

The Cubs, who still have three left-handers in the bullpen, received Karl Rhodes, a triple-A outfielder, from the Royals. The Royals received right-handed reliever John Habyan, a highly-regarded reliever.

Assenmacher, 32, has a 2-1 record and a 3.49 earned-run average in 46 games.

Assenmacher, who is in the second year of a three-year contract with the Cubs, is making $2.25 million per season. He has about $900,000 remaining on the contract for this season, and the Cubs have agreed to pay $1 million of his remaining contract.

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Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said he doesn’t anticipate making any trades before tonight’s deadline. “The interest is in starting pitching and a trade before the deadline is doubtful, because we value our starting pitchers,” Claire said.

The Dodgers are looking for young talent and the Yankees have several pitchers of interest at their triple-A Columbus team. Despite the deal the Yankees made with the Cubs, they are reportedly looking for a starter, and Tom Candiotti’s name has been mentioned along with that of Kevin Gross.

The Assenmacher deal, however, seems to have put an end to any interest the Yankees may have shown in Roger McDowell.

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Injury report: Shawon Dunston worked out with the Cubs at shortstop last Monday, the first time he has done so at Wrigley Field since his back surgery last June. “I had to listen to my body and take some time off,” said Dunston, who had the same back surgery as Darryl Strawberry. “I didn’t want to be labeled as one of those ‘now he signed, now he won’t play’ guys. I love to play this game.” . . . Eric Davis is being treated for soreness in his left knee, which has bothered him the last two weeks. . . . Tim Wallach, sidelined since July 18 because of a broken rib, had hoped to swing a bat Friday but the Dodger training staff wouldn’t let him. “They are making me wait until Tuesday in Houston, but they are probably right,” Wallach said. Wallach appealed to Manager Tom Lasorda to let him go directly to Houston rather than with the team Monday to the Hall of Fame game in Cooperstown, saying it will set his workout program back one day. Lasorda’s reply? “He said he will discuss it,” Wallach said. All the position players plus Ramon Martinez, Pedro Astacio, Rick Trlicek and Omar Daal are scheduled to make the Cooperstown trip, where the Dodgers will play the Cleveland Indians. Lasorda has decided not to pitch.