Dodgers Join Swap Meet

With the clock ticking, interim General Manager Tom Lasorda completed another significant deal before Friday night’s trading deadline, acquiring left-handed pitcher Carlos Perez and shortstop Mark Grudzielanek from the Montreal Expos in a seven-player transaction.

After acquiring all-star closer Jeff Shaw on July 4, Lasorda got the starting pitcher and position player he coveted for second baseman Wilton Guerrero, and minor leaguers Jonathan Tucker, Ted Lilly and Peter Bergeron. The Dodgers also received minor league prospect Hiram Bocachica, a former first-round draft choice, in the deal, which Lasorda brokered to bolster the Dodgers for the stretch run in the National League wild-card race.

The Dodgers acknowledged they needed help--and Lasorda provided a boost.

“This gives us a big lift,” Manager Glenn Hoffman said after the Dodgers scored three runs in the ninth inning and rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Mets at Shea Stadium.

“I knew Tommy was working on a lot, but I didn’t know what was going to happen. We needed to get some help now, and Tommy gave us a big boost.”

That was Lasorda’s plan.

“I said all along that I would do whatever I could to strengthen this team, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do from the moment I accepted this job,” Lasorda said.

“We had some holes to fill, we had some places we needed to improve, so we made the deal. We get a quality left-handed starter in Perez, and a talented guy who can help us in Grudzielanek. We feel we improved the team, and that’s what we were trying to do.”

Lasorda had been working on the Perez deal for weeks. This season, Perez is 7-10 with a 3.75 earned-run average in 23 starts.

The importance of acquiring another starting pitcher increased Monday because right-hander Ismael Valdes went on the 15-day disabled list because of strained stomach muscles.

The Guerrero-Grudzielanek component of the deal emerged only recently in the frenzied days leading to the midnight (EDT) deadline. Trading can occur until the postseason rosters are set Aug. 31, but players must clear waivers after Friday.

“We were on the phone all day with Montreal because we needed to get this done now,” Lasorda said. “Montreal gave us some good players who can help us now, and we gave them some good prospects who can help them down the road.”

Grudzielanek is expected to replace Juan Castro, who was filling in for injured starter Jose Vizcaino, as the everyday shortstop.

In Montreal, Guerrero, 23, becomes a teammate of his younger brother, Vladimir, a standout outfielder. Wilton, who batted .283 with with five stolen bases in 64 games, is expected to be the Expos’ everyday second baseman.

The Dodgers and Expos had discussed trading Guerrero for Grudzielanek during the off-season.

The trade was yet another major move in the Dodgers’ wild season--but this change was welcomed by the players.

“With Valdes being out, Perez can definitely help us,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “With the way Chan Ho [Park], and [Darren] Dreifort and the other guys in the rotation have been throwing, getting Perez gives us five quality starters again. And Grudzielanek definitely helps our offense, so this seems like exactly what we need.”

The newest Dodgers were with the Expos in Montreal on Friday. They are scheduled to arrive in New York today.

To make room for them on the 25-man roster, the Dodgers put infielder Tripp Cromer on the 15-day disabled list because of a quadriceps strain, and optioned rookie reliever Sean Maloney to triple-A Albuquerque.

Perez and Grudzielanek are working on one-year contracts of $1.5 million and $350,000, respectively, and both are eligible for arbitration next season.

With the acquisitions, the Dodgers’ payroll--already the highest in team history--increases to approximately $60 million.

Perez is tentatively scheduled to start today against the Mets. After four seasons with the cost-cutting Expos, Perez, 27, is pleased to have a new baseball address.

“I wasn’t thinking about being traded when I came to the stadium [Friday], but then my teammates started teasing me, saying that I was going to Minnesota or Detroit,” the flamboyant pitcher said. “I didn’t want to go there, but I’m very happy to play in Los Angeles.

“We have a lot of young players here [in Montreal] and the Dodgers have a lot of veterans, so I think it’s going to be easier for me to win games in Los Angeles. The Dodgers are a very good team, and I think I can help them by doing what I do best.”

Likewise, Grudzielanek, 28, is excited about leaving the Expos. The three-year veteran has been critical of team officials for slashing the payroll.

In 104 games, Grudzielanek is batting .276 with eight home runs and 41 runs batted in. He batted .306 with 201 hits in 1996 and led the National League with 54 doubles last season.

“This is a great trade for me because I wasn’t very happy in Montreal,” Grudzielanek said. “I wanted to play for a winner, and now I’m getting that chance with the Dodgers.”

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BASEBALL’S MOVING DAY

WHAT THE LOCALS DID

THE DODGERS: They continued their changing ways by getting pitcher Carlos Perez, shortstop Mark Grudzielanek and a prospect from Montreal for second baseman Wilton Guerrero and three minor leaguers.

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THE ANGELS: The West leaders might have difficulty staying there as the trading deadline passed without the team addressing its pitching needs, while Texas made a series of moves to bolster its chances for the stretch drive.

THE OTHER MAJOR DEALS

HOUSTON: The Astros were the surprise winners of the Randy Johnson sweepstakes, acquiring the former Cy Young Award winner from the Seattle Mariners for two minor leaguers and a player to be named.

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TEXAS: In separate deals, the Rangers acquired shortstop Royce Clayton and pitcher Todd Stottlemyre from St. Louis and third baseman Todd Zeile from the Florida Marlins.

SAN FRANCISCO: The Giants made a push to overtake Chicago in the wild-card race by acquiring outfielder Ellis Burks from Colorado for outfielder Darryl Hamilton, a minor leaguer and a player to be named.

NEW YORK METS: They made two deals, acquiring outfielder Tony Phillips from Toronto and sending slumping outfielder Bernard Gilkey to Arizona for pitcher Willie Blair and catcher Jorge Fabregas.

BALTIMORE: With no chance of catching the Yankees in the AL East but an outside shot in the wild-card race, the Orioles got pitcher Juan Guzman from Toronto for pitcher Nerio Rodriguez and a minor leaguer.

RACE FOR THE PLAYOFFS

Days Remaining In the Season: 58

Lasorda’s Moves

TRADE NO. 1

* WHEN: July 4.

* OTHER TEAM: Cincinnati Reds.

* NEW DODGER: Relief pitcher Jeff Shaw.

* NEW REDS: Infielder Paul Konerko, left-handed pitcher Dennis Reyes.

*

TRADE NO. 2

* WHEN: July 31.

* OTHER TEAM: Montreal Expos.

* NEW DODGERS: Left-handed pitcher Carlos Perez, infielder Mark Grudzielanek.

* NEW EXPO: Infielder Wilton Guerrero.