Frustrated Cedeno Asks for a Trade

Center fielder Roger Cedeno, frustrated with the Dodger organization, has asked to be traded.

“I just don’t fit in here,” said Cedeno, who’s scheduled to begin the season at triple-A Albuquerque. “I feel I’m ready for the major leagues, but they keep having me waiting, and I hate it.

“If they just let me go out and play, I could do it. But not like this. Not back in Albuquerque.

“They’ve got too many outfielders around here, anyway. They don’t need me. They should just let me go.”

Fred Claire, executive vice president, declined to comment on the trade request.

Yet the Dodgers, who rebuked numerous trade inquiries for Cedeno last year during the pennant stretch, now appear to be willing to grant Cedeno’s request.

The Dodgers brought up Cedeno in trade talks Wednesday with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds, according to sources, were much more interested in rookie Karim Garcia, whom the Dodgers are unwilling to trade.

Cedeno, 22, became the Dodgers’ everyday center fielder on May 2 last season when Brett Butler was hospitalized because of tonsil cancer. Cedeno lost his starting job June 29 and was sent to Albuquerque on July 29.

Cedeno came into camp in Vero Beach, Fla., hoping to win a starting job but has batted only .214 this spring.

“Everybody sees the talent Roger has,” Claire said. “But it has to be put to use. He has to stay focused. He’s still young, and we regard him highly.”

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Butler, considered the biggest question mark at the start of spring training, went four for four, stole a base, scored two runs and drove in two in the Dodgers’ 9-2 victory over the Reds’ split-squad team at Holman Stadium on Wednesday.

“Today’s been the best day for me,” said Butler, batting .375 this spring. “I felt it this morning. I had a little more bounce in my walk. I don’t feel fatigued, any aches, or anything.

“I don’t know if I’m starting to get used to it or not, but I’m getting to that comfort zone.”

Said first baseman Eric Karros: “I don’t think he would have come down here and given it a run if he didn’t think he had a shot. It looks like the same Butler to me.

“But you’ve got to wait to see how he’ll be in June and July. That will be the real test.”

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Butler said he hopes to play in about 140 games this season, taking most day games after night games off, and one game in particular off.

“I’m not playing when Randy Johnson [of the Seattle Mariners] pitches,” Butler said. “Someone else can have that. If someone says, ‘Hey, you’re gutless,’ I’ll say, ‘You know, you’re right.’ ”

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The Dodgers (9-9-1) have won six consecutive games since Manager Bill Russell chastised his team for its poor play last week. “It was very important,” Russell said, “because losing becomes contagious too. It was time for them to turn it up a notch and prepare for opening day [April 1 against Philadelphia], and that’s what we’ve done.” . . . Reliever Darren Dreifort has earned the opportunity to become the Dodgers’ top setup man. Dreifort, who pitched two more scoreless innings Wednesday, has a 0.90 earned-run average, holding opponents to a .111 batting average. . . . A celebration to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Dodgers’ academy in the Dominican Republic will be held at the camp on Saturday.