BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Strawberry Plans Residence Move but Hopes to Remain a Dodger

Darryl Strawberry--his back in shape, his swing gaining speed--said he hopes to remain a Dodger the final two years of his contract, even if he doesn’t plan to live in his hometown of Los Angeles.

“I’m moving to Arizona, I’m going to buy a house there,” Strawberry said Tuesday from Japan, where the Dodgers are on an exhibition tour. “I’m sick of L.A., I’ve been there all my life. When I went to Arizona for Instructional League, it was more of a peaceful town and I think it’s the best place for me to live. It will be a good place for me to settle in and retire, but I’m not saying I’m ready to retire. But it will be a good place for living after baseball; a nice place for me to make a home.”

Strawberry, who was told on the conference call that more fires had broken out in L.A. on Tuesday, at first said: “Let L.A. burn, I don’t live there anymore.” But Strawberry, who didn’t know the severity of the latest fires, apologized for that remark. “What’s really going on there?” he asked. “It’s terrible. I have friends who have lost their homes.”

Strawberry says his back is the strongest it has been since his surgery in September, 1992. Through four exhibition games, he is four for 13, with two doubles and two runs batted in, and has finished second to Mike Piazza in two home run hitting contests. He is also playing left field, the position he is expected to play next season.

“Nothing has really been said (about coming back),” Strawberry said. “Whatever decision (the Dodgers) make is fine with me. I would like to honor my contract and hopefully I can have two great seasons for the club and be productive the next two years.”