Now Offerman Will Get the Royal Treatment : Baseball: Dodgers trade shortstop to Kansas City for reliever Brewer.

The Dodgers formally terminated their relationship Sunday with shortstop Jose Offerman when they traded him to the Kansas City Royals for left-handed reliever Billy Brewer.

Brewer, 27, who earned $220,000 last season and is not eligible for arbitration, will compete for a job as the second left-hander in the bullpen. Brewer, who was sent to Class-A Springfield for two weeks last season to regain his confidence, was 2-4 with a 5.56 earned-run average in 48 games. He is 8-7 with a 3.85 ERA in his three-year career.

The Dodgers and Royals are essentially swapping shortstops. The Dodgers signed free agent Greg Gagne earlier this month. The two teams will face one another March 1 in the opening game of spring training.

“Jose is elated,” said Adam Katz, one of Offerman’s agents. “He’s happy with the team and the playing situation, and he’s endorsed by [General Manager] Herk Robinson and [Manager] Bob Boone.”

Robinson, who signed Offerman to a one-year contract worth about half the $1.6 million he earned in 1995, said: “There’s some risk involved, but there’s tremendous upside potential here. I know a change of scenery doesn’t always help, but in this case, it can help. Maybe getting out of there will do him good.”

Offerman, who signed with the Dodgers as a 17-year-old in 1986, made the All-Star team for the first time in 1995 but lost his starting job in September to rookie Chad Fonville. Offerman had his finest offensive season--.287 with four home runs and 33 RBIs--but made a major league-leading 35 errors.

The Dodgers also signed reserve catcher Carlos Hernandez to a one-year contract, leaving third baseman Mike Blowers and pitcher Pedro Astacio as their only arbitration-eligible players. The Dodgers plan to offer arbitration to each player if they can not reach an agreement by Wednesday.