BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : There’s Talk of Butler Returning

The Dodgers, who suddenly find themselves in dire need of another outfielder, privately are discussing the possibility of re-acquiring veteran center fielder Brett Butler of the New York Mets.

Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, was hoping no further trades would be needed for the pennant stretch, but he may now have no choice.

Veteran outfielder Mitch Webster broke a bone in his right hand on a swing Monday night, and will be sidelined four to six weeks. He was replaced on the roster by Rick Parker, leaving the Dodgers with a rather inexperienced bench.

With the exception of five-year second baseman Delino DeShields, who has been a starter throughout his career, the most experienced bench player is Dave Hansen with four years and 25 days of major league service. The entire bench has combined for 63 career home runs, including 29 by DeShields.

Claire would neither confirm nor deny interest in Butler, who was the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter the last four seasons. The Dodgers pulled their one-year, $3.5 million contract from Butler this spring, and Butler accepted a one-year, $2 million contract offer from the Mets.

“Obviously, there are some clubs not in contention that would be interested in moving veteran players,” Claire said. “We’re going to look at the landscape to see who’s out there. I’m not going to rule anybody in or out.”

It could turn out the Dodgers don’t even need Butler, or another center fielder, Claire said, if rookie Roger Cedeno proves he can handle the job. Cedeno, called up Aug. 10 to replace injured center fielder Todd Hollandsworth, entered Tuesday’s game batting .200 with two runs batted in.

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The timing of the injury couldn’t have been much worse for Webster, who not only was starting to play much more, but was eagerly looking forward to helping the Dodgers in the pennant stretch.

Yet, even when the preliminary X-rays revealed no fracture Monday night, Webster knew the hand was broken.

“I’m just very frustrated,” said Webster, one of the most popular players in the Dodger clubhouse. “I was getting a chance to play, and now we’re at a critical time of the season. But I think I’ll be back quickly. I should be back in four weeks.”

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The National League has decided to hear the Dodgers’ appeal Friday of their forfeited game Aug. 10 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Although there’s virtually no chance the final two outs will be replayed, Claire said, “We wouldn’t have appealed unless we thought we had a chance.”

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Cub shortstop Shawon Dunston appealed his four-game suspension and played in Tuesday night’s game. Dunston was suspended for four days and fined an undisclosed sum for charging the mound and inciting a bench-clearing brawl Sunday against the Giants. Dunston already served a two-game suspension earlier this season for an altercation with Jason Bates of the Colorado Rockies. Dunston said he expects to have a hearing in mid-September.

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Dodger first baseman Eric Karros said he had a headache all night from being hit in the jaw Monday night in a collision with Cub first baseman Mark Grace but still played Tuesday.