Murray Signs Triple-A Contract

Another day, another move.

Over the last nine days, Fred Claire has turned into Monty Hall, wheeling and dealing to give the Dodgers more talent, depth and experience as they battle the San Francisco Giants for the NL West title.

Wednesday, Claire, the Dodgers’ executive vice-president, reached an agreement with Eddie Murray on a deal to bring the 21-year veteran back to the Dodgers. Murray, 41, who was released by the Angels Aug. 14, has signed to play for the Dodgers’ triple-A team in Albuquerque, with the expectation that he will be brought up to the big club in September.

Last week, Claire obtained veteran outfielder Otis Nixon from the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league catcher Bobby Cripps. Monday, Claire acquired second baseman Eric Young from the Colorado Rockies for pitcher Pedro Astacio.

In the case of Murray, the question is, how much does he have left?

Not enough to satisfy the Angels, for whom he was hitting .219 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 46 games.

“I have a great deal of respect for Eddie Murray as a person and as a player,” Claire said. “He was a great influence in the clubhouse. I appreciated the way he approached the game.

“This was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Certainly at the price. The Angels are already paying Murray’s salary of $750,000. He had an incentive clause that would have paid him another $750,000 if he had 500 at-bats this season, but that is not going to happen since Murray had only 160 with the Angels.

That will leave the Dodgers to pay only the one-sixth of the major league minimum of $150,000, since that is all that will be left of the season when Murray reports. That comes out to $25,000.

“I think it is good for a [future] Hall of Famer to bring his presence into the clubhouse,” Manager Bill Russell said. “He knows what it takes to win. We want to use his left-handed bat [Murray is a switch-hitter].”

Murray, who played with the Dodgers from 1989 to 1991, is expected to join the Dukes in Salt Lake City on Friday and spend at least a week trying to shake off the rust.

“Obviously he’s pretty anxious to play,” Russell said, “or he wouldn’t be going down to the minors to get some at-bats.”

Murray is only the third player to have 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, the other two being Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Murray has a career batting average of .288 with 3,253 hits, 560 doubles, 504 home runs and 1,914 RBIs.

Claire said he has decided not to bring Murray up before the rosters expand in September because he doesn’t have any place to put him, but he wouldn’t rule out a postseason spot for the newest Dodger acquisition.

*

Nobody has to explain to the Dodgers the logic of obtaining a starting second baseman like Young for a slumping pitcher like Astacio, who had already been banished to the bullpen before Monday’s deal.

But for Ismael Valdes, a close friend of Astacio, the loss was still tough.

“It hurts to lose a teammate like him,” Valdes said, “but this is a business. It’s tough to leave when you are born in this organization like he was. But he’s a strong warrior. He’ll be all right.”

“It’s [the trade] good for him and I wish him the best of luck. I just hope I don’t have to pitch against him.”

TODAY’S GAMES

GAME 1

DODGERS’ TOM CANDIOTTI (9-4, 3.35 ERA) vs. METS’ JOE CRAWFORD (1-1, 3.96 ERA)

DODGERS’

GAME 2

CHAN HO PARK (12-6, 3.16 ERA) vs. METS’ RICK REED (10-6, 2.86 ERA)

Shea Stadium, 1:40 PDT

TV--KTLA (beginning at 4 p.m.).

Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Wouldn’t it be nice to still have Pedro Astacio? Although the Dodgers appear to have strengthened their lineup with the acquisition of second baseman Eric Young, the sudden requirement of playing two doubleheaders in five days has left them short of starting pitching. With Park, who was scheduled to go Friday, forced to pitch in the second game of tonight’s doubleheader, the Dodgers need another starting pitcher for Friday. In answer to a reporter’s question, Manager Bill Russell agreed that his only two options are long reliever Darren Dreifort, or minor league pitcher Dennis Reyes, who made three starts for the Dodgers last month. The more likely choice is Dreifort. Candiotti should be well rested, having not pitched in nine days. Park is pitching with his usual four days’ rest. Crawford, a rookie, will be getting his first major league start after 12 relief appearances.