BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Ventura at Top of Wish List

The Chicago White Sox will ask third baseman Robin Ventura today if he will waive his no-trade clause to clear the way for a possible trade to the Dodgers, according to a high-placed source familiar with the negotiations.

Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, engaged in trade negotiations Tuesday for Ventura. Ventura, 28, has driven in more runs the last five years than any third baseman in baseball and easily is considered the best available player at the position.

Yet there is a price.

The White Sox not only are seeking two top-line prospects for Ventura, including outfielders Karim Garcia, Roger Cedeno or Todd Hollandsworth, but Ventura is guaranteed $18 million over the next three seasons.

The Dodgers, according to a source, also had trade discussions with the Florida Marlins for veteran Terry Pendleton. But Marlin General Manager Dave Dombrowski said the Dodgers were unable to meet their asking price, and Pendleton will stay put.

“We’re still looking,” Claire said. “We’ll see what happens.”

The Dodgers want to make a trade by 9 p.m. Thursday, when playoff rosters must be submitted to the league office.

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Third baseman Tim Wallach decided Tuesday to reject season-ending knee surgery and instead will attempt to rehabilitate his left knee in an effort to return this season. Wallach has a tear of the posterior cruciate ligament and another tear from an old injury.

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Second baseman Delino DeShields says his biggest disappointment about the call-up of Mike Busch was that he believes Dave Hansen can be the everyday third baseman.

“I think Dave can do the job, I just wish they’d let him,” DeShields said. “Dave’s got to be the man. He can do it if they let him.”

But the Dodgers are suspicious of Hansen’s defensive abilities, and replaced him in the ninth inning with Rick Parker, who made his major-league debut at third base last week.

“The whole thing’s a shame,” DeShields said. “When guys called me this spring, I told them, ‘If you’ve got a legitimate chance to be in the big leagues, don’t [cross the picket line].’

“But unless you’re in a guy’s shoes, and know what he’s feeling when he makes the decision, how can you be critical?”

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Mike Scioscia, the Dodgers’ roving catching instructor, joined the club to work with catcher Mike Piazza for the remainder of the home stand. . . . The Dodgers activated outfielder Chris Gwynn from the disabled list and optioned Garey Ingram to triple-A Albuquerque. The Dodgers will bring Ingram back to the big leagues Sept. 1 when rosters can expand. . . . Catcher Tom Prince, who has a clause in his contract that stipulates he join the Dodgers when rosters expand, will be added to the roster Friday.