Dodgers Get Candiotti but Won’t Sign Tapani

Spring training is still two months away, but after re-signing starting pitcher Tom Candiotti to a two-year, $6-million contract Friday, the Dodgers say they are ready.

“It was the last significant piece of the puzzle,” said Fred Claire, the club’s executive vice president. “You can pretty much identify the team now. We’re all set and ready to go.”

The Dodgers, who have committed $27.345 million to 12 players, will start spring training with only two significant questions: Who will start in left field, Todd Hollandsworth, Billy Ashley or Roger Cedeno? And who will be the fifth starter, Pedro Astacio, Chan Ho Park, Joey Eischen or Darren Dreifort?

With Candiotti signed, the Dodgers also said they would not offer a contract to pitcher Kevin Tapani by Wednesday’s deadline.

“We really wanted Tom back, because when you put him in the rotation [with his knuckleball], it’s like having a left-hander who can break up the right-handers,” Claire said.

Candiotti, 38, was 7-14 last season with a 3.50 earned-run average but was victimized by horrible run support. The Dodgers were shut out six times in his starts and averaged only 2.9 runs in his last 25.

“The fact that we got [shortstop Greg] Gagne really boosted my interest in coming back,” Candiotti said. “He’s going to make a big difference. . . . I’m coming back to a championship-caliber club.”

In other developments, the Dodgers traded left-handed pitcher Omar Daal to the Montreal Expos and appeared close to trading Jose Offerman to the Kansas City Royals. The Dodgers got Class-A pitcher Rick Clelland from the Expos and, if the Kansas City deal goes through, will receive another prospect for Offerman, who would replace Gagne in the Royals’ lineup.

Royal General Manager Herk Robinson confirmed the club’s interest in Offerman and said he has reached an verbal agreement with Adam Katz, Offerman’s agent.

The Dodgers have been trying to trade Offerman since the end of the season and have no plans to tender him a contract.

Offerman, the Dodgers’ opening-day shortstop the last four seasons, lost his starting job in September after making a major league-leading 35 errors and requested that he be traded.