BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Kelly Almost Became a Mariner

If Seattle Mariner center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. had broken his wrist a few days earlier, Montreal Expo General Manager Kevin Malone is convinced that center fielder Roberto Kelly would be playing today for the Mariners, not the Dodgers.

Malone disclosed Sunday that he was engaged in serious trade discussions up until 10 days ago with the Mariners that focused on Kelly. The deal would have sent Kelly to the Mariners for a left-handed batter, probably first baseman Tino Martinez.

“We were talking pretty heavy there,” Malone said, “but when I didn’t hear anything for a few days, the Dodgers stepped in. They were going to put Kelly in left, with Griffey in center and [Jay] Buhner in right. That would have been some outfield.”

Instead, Griffey broke his wrist Friday night, and will be lost for a minimum of three months and possibly the season.

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Malone can’t understand all the commotion about Expo starter Carlos Perez, whose antics Saturday were ridiculed by the Dodgers.

“Anybody who has a problem with it,” Malone said, “it’s basically because they failed. . . . He’s not doing it to show anybody up. He’s just very charismatic. He’s an entertainer, and now he has a stage. We need guys like that to draw attention back to the game, and away from the labor negotiations. I think he’s great for the game.”

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Kelly batted leadoff again Sunday, but Manager Tom Lasorda said it was strictly to make Jose Offerman more comfortable at the No. 2 spot. Delino DeShields will return to the leadoff spot when he emerges from his slump. . . . Reliever Felix Rodriguez was called up for the third time this season, this time to replace Rudy Seanez (strained groin), who was put on the 15-day disabled list.