Dodgers Bring Back Vizcaino

The Dodgers moved to fill their hole at shortstop Monday, reacquiring free agent Jose Vizcaino, as expected, and seemingly completing their major off-season acquisitions.

Terms of the three-year deal were not released, but baseball sources said Vizcaino, 29, received a package worth $9.5 million--$3 million in 1998 and ’99 and $3.5 million in 2000. He made $2.8 million with the San Francisco Giants last season.

Also Monday, former Dodger pitcher Tom Candiotti agreed to a two-year, $6.35-million contract with the Oakland Athletics. An option for a third year could push the total to $9.5 million. The Dodgers were among six teams that offered Candiotti a contract.

Vizcaino replaces Greg Gagne, who retired after 13 years, the last two with the Dodgers. Vizcaino signed with the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 1986 and was traded to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Greg Smith in 1990. Smith had three at-bats for the Dodgers and is out of baseball.

Vizcaino makes his off-season home in El Cajon and said he has longed for this homecoming.

“I started out as a Dodger and I’ve always thought like a Dodger,” he said. “I said that someday, when I’m a free agent, I would go back to the Dodgers if I had the chance. This was always my first choice and I told my agent I would take less money to play for the Dodgers because I would be happy there.”

Finding a replacement for Gagne was the Dodgers’ primary off-season concern. Last season, they reacquired second baseman Eric Young from the Colorado Rockies, so their double-play combination seems set.

Executive Vice President Fred Claire said he’s still trying to improve the Dodgers’ subpar bench but that Vizcaino’s signing ends his major efforts to strengthen the roster. The Dodgers’ 1998 payroll is expected to be approximately $44 million, about the same as last season, and sources said Claire had only about $4 million to spend on free agents.

Payroll constraints also prevented the Dodgers from re-signing outfielder Otis Nixon, as Claire had hoped to do. Sources said Nixon rejected a one-year, incentive-packed contract from the Dodgers that included a $1-million base salary.

“For me, this was the key part for what we needed to do for 1998,” Claire said of signing Vizcaino. “Shortstop was our priority, and Jose fits all of our needs in a great way.”

The Giants obtained Vizcaino in the trade that sent Matt Williams to the Cleveland Indians, and he played a key role in their winning the National League West title. Vizcaino batted .266 with five home runs and 50 runs batted in, and set personal highs in playing 151 games and scoring 77 runs.

But Vizcaino’s defensive play was what interested the Dodgers most. They believe they can rely on him for at least the same level of consistency Gagne provided.

Scouts say Vizcaino has good range and a better-than-average arm, making him one of the league’s more dependable shortstops. Solid defense has marked his nine-year career with the Dodgers, Cubs, New York Mets, Indians and Giants.

Vizcaino committed only 16 errors last season, ranking fifth among National League shortstops with a .976 fielding percentage. He was at his best down the stretch as the Giants battled the Dodgers for the championship. He committed only seven errors in the Giants’ last 75 games, only one in their last 40.

The Dodgers had tried to get shortstop Mark Grudzielanek from the Montreal Expos, but talks stalled because the Dodgers were not willing to offer more than reserve second baseman Wilton Guerrero. And some within the Dodger organization considered Grudzielanek, who committed 32 errors last season, too shaky defensively.

The Dodgers also like Vizcaino’s versatility. He can play second as well as shortstop, and can bat anywhere in the order.

“He’s the ideal No. 2 hitter because he can do so many things for you,” Manager Bill Russell said. “He’s a good contact hitter and he knows situations in games. I definitely think I’m going to hit him second, but we’ll wait and see what happens. We’re just really happy to have him back.”

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Jose Vizcaino at a Glance

* Born: March 26, 1968 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.

* Bats: Switch-hitter

* Throws: Right

* Career: Signed with the Dodgers on Feb. 18, 1986. Traded to Chicago Cubs for infielder Greg Smith on Dec. 14, 1990. Tied for NL lead in fielding percentage by shortstop (.984) and assists by shortstop (411) in 1995.

YEAR BY YEAR

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Year, Team AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI Avg E 1989, Dodgers 10 2 2 0 0 0 0 .200 2 1990, Dodgers 51 3 14 1 1 0 2 .275 2 1991, Cubs 145 7 38 5 0 0 10 .262 7 1992, Cubs 285 25 64 10 4 1 17 .225 9 1993, Cubs 551 74 158 19 4 4 54 .287 17 1994, Mets 410 47 105 13 3 3 33 .256 13 1995, Mets 509 66 146 21 5 3 56 .287 10 1996, NY-Cle 542 70 161 17 8 1 45 .297 10 1997, Giants 568 77 151 19 7 5 50 .266 16 Totals 3,071 371 839 105 32 17 267 .273 86

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