BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Quick Start Might Pay Off For Worrell

It would have been a preposterous suggestion during the winter, and frankly, the Dodgers were looking for ways to trade closer Todd Worrell rather than retain him.

Yet, after watching his performance the first six weeks of the season, guess who may be returning in 1996?

The Dodgers will wait until after the season to negotiate with Worrell, but with the way he’s pitching these days, he has emerged as one of the Dodgers’ top priorities for next season.

Worrell, in the final year of a three-year, $9.5-million contract, has an earned-run average of 0.00 in 19 innings, and is seven for seven in save situations.

“I feel invincible right now, my confidence is that high,” Worrell said. “Looking over my whole career, this definitely is the best I’ve ever pitched, especially out of the chute.

“I’m not overconfident, because I know what this game can do to you, but I’m having a whole lot of fun.

“Hopefully, it can continue, but I’d like to stay here for a while.”

Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said he’ll delay any decisions on free agents and arbitration-eligible players until a basic agreement is reached. Yet, he can’t hide his elation over Worrell’s success.

“I think a number of things have come together for Todd,” Claire said. “He’s made contributions in the past, but now he’s had the opportunity to pitch in the right role. We’re able to get him more into a one-inning situation.

“We didn’t have the luxury to do that last year.”

*

Dodger reliever Felix Rodriguez, born and raised in Montecristi, Dominican Republic, without the luxury of electricity and running water, kept the baseball from his first victory Sunday. “That’s going to my mother,” Rodriguez said. “She’s very proud of me, but I’m even more proud of her.” . . . Expo second baseman Jeff Treadway originally was scheduled to be in the starting lineup, but slipped on a staircase while carrying boxes and sprained his left thumb. . . . Dodger coach Manny Mota said he was elated that the Dodgers drafted his 17-year-old son, Antonio, but doesn’t know whether he’ll recommend that he play professionally or go to college. “This will be a family decision,” Mota said. “It’s not a dictatorship. I called all of my sons, and we’ll decide together.”