Dodgers React, Grab Tapani From Twins : Baseball: After Colorado’s move, L.A. acquires starter, reliever Guthrie for pitchers Parra and Hansell and infielder Coomer.

The Dodgers, realizing the Colorado Rockies won’t go away after they traded for all-star pitcher Bret Saberhagen, countered Monday night by trading for Minnesota Twin starter Kevin Tapani and left-handed reliever Mark Guthrie.

The Dodgers, who have been looking for a fifth starter and left-handed reliever for months, pulled off the trade 45 minutes before the 9 p.m. trading deadline.

In exchange, the Dodgers sent minor league pitchers Jose Parra and Greg Hansell to the Twins, along with minor league third baseman Ron Coomer. Parra, who was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque last week, was considered the best of the prospects and will replace Tapani in the rotation for the Twins.

“I feel a whole lot better about it after hearing that,” Dodger first baseman Eric Karros said. “I was just going to bed when I caught [ESPN] SportsCenter and saw the Rockies got Saberhagen. I’m thinking: ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’

“I’m excited that we did something. Tapani’s got good stuff. He’s not a Saberhagen, but it’s not like we gave up the farm for him, either. Besides, we don’t need pitching like they do.

“It’s a great sign for us because it shows they want to win now. That’s evident. We’re not just sitting back and building for the future.

“I mean, when the future rolls around, half of us may be gone anyway. I’m not saying this is the complete answer, but it definitely helps.”

The Dodgers, who trail the first-place Rockies by 3 1/2 games going into tonight’s three-game series at Coors Field, increased their payroll by nearly $1.4 million by making the additions. Tapani (6-11, 4.92 earned-run average) will replace Willie Banks as the fifth starter. Guthrie (5-3, 4.46 ERA) replaces Parra in the bullpen.

Tapani, who will fall six days shy of free agency if players are not awarded service time for the period in which they were on strike, makes $3.6 million and will at least be eligible for arbitration. Guthrie makes $725,000.

“I’m not so much surprised that I was traded,” said Tapani, 31, who has been on the block for the last month, “but at the team I was traded to. That was one team that wasn’t mentioned much.

“I’m going to take a positive approach. It’s a whole new situation. It’s a difficult time of the year to get traded, but I get to pitch for a contender.”

The Dodgers didn’t even express interest in Tapani until Monday. They had talked about acquiring Guthrie, but the starter they sought was left-hander Jeff Fassero of the Montreal Expos.

‘We were certainly very much in the hunt today,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice-president. “There were some other things we were looking at, but when I saw that they were limited or not available we decided to make this move.

“What we had to weigh was having a couple of good arms who can help us now or who can help us in the future. Parra and Hansell were not going to make an impact this year. I believe Tapani and Guthrie will make an impact. They can definitely help us.”

Tapani, who pitched an eight-hit complete-game victory Friday night over the New York Yankees, is scheduled to start Wednesday for the Dodgers. He said he’ll probably arrive tonight, although his equipment is on the Twins’ chartered flight headed to Cleveland.

“I really don’t know anything about the Dodgers, to tell you the truth,” said Tapani, who pitched at least 220 innings for three consecutive seasons until last year’s strike. “All I know is that they’re in the middle of the playoff hunt and they’ve got a good rotation.”

Tapani become the latest high-priced veteran to leave the Twins this past month, following Rick Aguilera and Scott Erickson.

“The deal makes sense all-around,” said Terry Ryan, general manager of the Twins. “The Dodgers needed to add, and we’re trying to rebuild.”

Tapani, who was coveted by several teams the past few weeks, in particular the Rockies, lost much of his trade value by losing seven consecutive games.

“At least we’re trying to get somebody to help us,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said. “But I’ve never seen the guy pitch. I don’t know anything about Tapani.

“But I do know that the Rockies got themselves a hell of a pitcher in Saberhagen. That’s a pretty good step right there.”