Wheeling Becomes Dealing

The Dodgers pulled off another big trade Friday, getting pitcher Carlos Perez, shortstop Mark Grudzielanek and a prospect from the Montreal Expos for second baseman Wilton Guerrero and three minor leaguers.

The Expos got pitcher Ted Lilly, outfielder Peter Bergeron and first baseman Jonathan Tucker in addition to Guerrero. The Dodgers also got minor league outfielder Hiram Bocachica.

The deal came about four hours before baseball’s non-waiver trading deadline of midnight EDT. At the time of the deal, Los Angeles was five games behind Chicago in the NL wild-card race.

“They went for the prospects,” Dodger interim General Manager Tom Lasorda said. “We went for the guys who can help us right now.”

The Dodgers have made several major moves this season. They’ve traded away Mike Piazza, Hideo Nomo and Todd Zeile and acquired Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Jeff Shaw.

“We’ve got to get this club into the playoffs,” Lasorda said.

Perez, the subject of numerous rumors leading up to the trading deadline, was 7-10 with a 3.75 earned-run average in 23 starts this season. The 27-year-old left-hander broke his nose Sunday night in a traffic accident.

“He’s a quality pitcher,” Lasorda said. “He’s a winner. I’ve always admired and respected him.”

Grudzielanek, 28, who tied the major league record for doubles by a shortstop with 54 last season, was batting .276 with eight homers and 41 RBIs.

“Grudzielanek is a great ballplayer,” Lasorda added. “He can do a lot of things for you.”

Expo General Manager Jim Beattie said there had been a fit with the Dodgers for a while for a deal involving Perez and Grudzielanek.

“We had discussions with the Dodgers in the off-season,” he said. “They wanted Mark and we wanted Wilton. We’ve had ongoing discussions.”

Since spring training, Grudzielanek has said he wasn’t going to be back next season and has lamented the departures of other star players.

“I know I said some things in the past and might have complained before, but they were very honest with me and that’s what I’ll remember,” Grudzielanek said. “But I’m looking forward to going to L.A. I’m a bit nervous.”

Both Grudzielanek, who was pulled from Friday night’s game against San Diego, and Perez could be seen hugging their teammates as they walked from the dugout to the clubhouse.

The switch-hitting Guerrero, 23, joins his brother, Vladimir, with the Expos.

Guerrero was hitting .283 in 64 games with Los Angeles this season. He was listed in the starting lineup for Friday night’s game at New York, but was a late scratch. He is expected to report to Montreal tomorrow.

Bocachica, 22, played 11 games for triple-A Ottawa after being called up from double-A Harrisburg, where he hit .264 with four homers and 27 RBIs.

Lilly, 22, was 1-3 with a 4.94 ERA in five starts for triple-A Albuquerque after going 8-4 with a 3.30 ERA with double-A San Antonio earlier this season.

Bergeron, 20, was batting .317 for San Antonio with eight homers and 54 RBIs. He also stole 33 bases.

Tucker, 21, was hitting .297 with 10 homers and 64 RBIs for San Antonio.