BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : Dodgers Put Contract Talks on Hold

The Dodgers will wait until after the season to negotiate long-term contracts with first baseman Eric Karros and catcher Mike Piazza, Executive Vice President Fred Claire said.

“We’ve decided to spend time and focus our energy on the baseball season, not the contract season,” Claire said. “There’ll be another time and place to do that.”

Karros and Piazza are in the final years of their contracts and will be eligible for arbitration after the season. Karros, who is earning $3.15 million this season, could be in line to get nearly $5 million through arbitration.

Piazza, who has produced the best offensive statistics of any catcher in history in his first three seasons, will earn $2.7 million this season and could go as high as $6 million through arbitration.

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The club is being inundated with inquiries about their left-handed relief pitchers. There are 13 left-handers among the 31 pitchers in camp, and the Dodgers have let it be known that some are available for trade. “We’re like gold,” John Cummings said. “Everybody wants one of us.” Perhaps the most difficult decision will be whether to keep Joey Eischen, who is out of options. If Eischen does not make the team, Claire said they may have to trade him because he won’t clear waivers.

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Outfielders Brett Butler and Roger Cedeno, who have been out the last few days because of injuries, took batting practice Tuesday. . . . Reliever Billy Brewer signed a one-year contract, leaving outfielder Raul Mondesi, pitcher Ismael Valdes and Cedeno as the only unsigned players. . . . Tom Candiotti will start the exhibition opener Friday against the Kansas City Royals. Ramon Martinez will start Saturday against the New York Mets and Hideo Nomo will start Sunday against the Houston Astros. . . . Mondesi said his goal this season is to become the National League’s most valuable player.