BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Valdes Might Be Sent to Albuquerque

The Dodgers might send pitcher Ismael Valdes to the minors on Friday morning in order to keep him pitching during the impending strike. Fred Claire, executive vice president, said he will not add a player and plans to cut the roster to 24, though he would not confirm that Valdes is the player.

Valdes, 20, has taken over the setup role for the Dodgers, pitching well since he was promoted on June 8. Since then, in 21 appearances he has compiled a 3-1 record with a 3.18 earned-run average and 28 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings.

Valdes has risen through the Dodger system quickly--after starting the season in double-A San Antonio, he was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque on May 20, where he was 3-0 in four starts with a 2.77 ERA.

“I would prefer to stay with my team, but if they send me to pitch in triple-A, well, it’s an order,” Valdes said.

But the moves come with a risk. If a player is sent down he has to stay for 10 days, barring an injury. If the strike doesn’t happen, or ends before 10 days, the player still has to stay the allotted time. Also, players have to be on the roster by Aug. 31 for postseason play, if there is one.

A move Claire said he wouldn’t make is sending Rafael Bournigal, who is making $134,000, to Albuquerque for Jose Offerman, who is making $550,000.

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Tests revealed that Tom Candiotti has a strained upper left back. Candiotti, who felt stiffness when he pitched Tuesday, flew home Wednesday to Los Angeles to be examined by team orthopedist Ralph Gambardella at Centinela Medical Center. “The only thing we can trace it to is the line drive he took on the left side of his chest in that game in San Francisco,” team therapist Pat Screnar said. “He had a cramping sensation and said that during the game he couldn’t reach back and (throw) what he wanted.”

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According to Financial World magazine, the Dodgers spent 52.2% of their 1993 revenues on players’ salaries. The Cincinnati Reds led the 28 major league teams, paying 86.8% of revenues to its players. The Dodgers were 21st. The lowest was the San Diego Padres, who spent only 25.6%.

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Reds’ reliever Rob Dibble, who had rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder in April, completed his rehabilitation assignment at the club’s triple-A team in Indianapolis, but it didn’t go all that well. In six games, Dibble had an 0-2 record with 10 walks over 4 1/3 innings and a 22.85 ERA. Cincinnati activated him from the disabled list Wednesday and optioned starter Kevin Jarvis to Indianapolis. The roster move was a technicality. Dibble, the Reds’ union representative, would go on strike Friday whether he was in the minors or on the 25-man roster.