Dodgers Keep Their Infielders, but Garcia Picked By Arizona

The Dodgers gambled and won big Tuesday, escaping the expansion draft without losing veteran infielders Eric Karros, Eric Young or Todd Zeile to the Arizona Diamondbacks or Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Baseball sources said Dodger Executive Vice President Fred Claire left three-fourths of the Dodger infield off the team’s 15-player protected list, figuring Arizona and Tampa Bay would covet younger, less-expensive players in the three-round draft. Claire figured correctly, as the expansion teams shied away from drafting a reportedly long list of unprotected, high-priced veterans.

And to a lesser extent, the Angels also got lucky. They apparently exposed middle relievers Mike James and Shigetoshi Hasegawa, who went undrafted.

However, the Dodgers and Angels suffered losses during the draft at the Phoenix Civic Plaza. Outfielder Karim Garcia, considered among the Dodgers’ best prospects, was the first player selected from either organization, going to Arizona with its fifth pick in the first round.

Tampa Bay chose Angel starter Dennis Springer with its 13th selection in the first round. The Devil Rays made Dodger pitcher Rick Gorecki their 20th overall selection with the sixth pick of the second round.

The Diamondbacks selected Mike Bell, an Angel minor league third baseman, with their final pick in the second round. Dodger pitcher Jesus Martinez, the younger brother of standout pitchers Ramon and Pedro, was taken by Arizona with its 30th overall pick. Martinez was then traded to Florida for veteran center fielder Devon White in the Marlins’ continuing salary purge.

All-star catcher Mike Piazza was pleased the Dodgers didn’t lose any of their key veterans.

“This is good because it keeps the top of the lineup and the middle of the lineup intact,” Piazza said. “We should have won [the division] last year, so this gives us one more year, and another chance, to get it done.”

Said Karros, who just finished the first year of a four-year, $20-million contract: “This is obviously where I want to be. I guess this was the first bullet to be dodged, and hopefully I’ll be playing with the Dodgers for the next three years.”

Claire was determined to protect the organization’s top pitchers and young players. Sources said Claire included nine pitchers on the list he submitted to the commissioner’s office in New York last week. To do that, though, Claire risked losing a big part of the Dodger nucleus.

“We hoped to accomplish two things with our draft philosophy,” Claire said. “We wanted to maintain the credibility of our team for next season, and we wanted to protect our future. Even with the loss of Karim, I’m happy with where we are after coming through the draft.”

The Angels are now in the market for a fifth starter after losing Springer, 32, the only veteran major leaguer selected from the Angels or Dodgers. The right-hander was 9-9 with a 5.18 earned-run average last season.

“Tampa Bay got a heck of a pitcher who will give them effective innings, and that’s the type of guy we hate to lose,” Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi said. “But we felt we lost the guy we could most afford to lose.”

Said Springer: “I didn’t think I had any chance of being picked. I’ve never been that kind of guy, but now I am. . . . I’ll be a part of history and I’m excited about that, but at the same time, I didn’t want to leave Anaheim.”

Scouts said Garcia, 22, possesses as much talent as any outfielder in the Dodger organization other than Raul Mondesi. At triple-A Albuquerque in 1995, Garcia hit .319 with 20 home runs, 26 doubles, 10 triples and 91 runs batted in.

But Dodger management became disenchanted with the left-handed power hitter after he disappeared for a week in the minor leagues last season. Garcia injured his throwing shoulder in the minors this season, and sources said the Dodgers have concerns about his attitude and work ethic.

“I’m shocked and disappointed, but I’m thankful for all the Dodgers have done for me,” Garcia said. “I’m sorry I didn’t get the opportunity to show the fans of Los Angeles what I could do with the chance to play every day.”

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Times staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this story.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

WHO DODGERS LOST

Karim Garcia

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Player Pos. Team 1. Karim Garcia OF Arizona 2. Rick Gorecki P Tampa Bay 3. Jesus Martinez P Arizona

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WHO ANGELS LOST

Dennis Springer

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Player Pos. Team 1. Dennis Springer P Tampa Bay 2. Mike Bell 3b Arizona

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