Expos Wanted Guerrero or There Was No Deal

Interim General Manager Tom Lasorda declined many offers for second baseman Wilton Guerrero.

But the Montreal Expos wouldn’t have traded pitcher Carlos Perez and shortstop Mark Grudzielanek to the Dodgers on Friday unless Guerrero was included in the deal, so Lasorda did what he hoped to avoid.

“I tell Wilton all the time that he has a chance to be a star,” Lasorda said. “The last thing I wanted to do was trade Wilton, but [Montreal General Manager Jim Beattie] wouldn’t make the deal without him.

“Wilton is going to get a chance to play every day, and that’s good for him. Wilton will be fine. All Wilton has to do is relax.”

Guerrero batted .291 with nine triples as a rookie last season, but he lost his job because of mental lapses and poor baserunning. The Dodgers tried to make him an outfielder this season, but that plan didn’t work.

“Wilton’s first choice was to play in Los Angeles,” said Jeff Moorad, Guerrero’s agent. “He enjoyed being here, but under the circumstances, this was the next best thing.”

His former teammates agreed.

“You never want to see a young and talented guy like Wilton leave, but he needed to play every day,” second baseman Eric Young said. “Wilton did a good job filling in for me while I was [on the disabled list], and I know he’s going to be happy with his brother [Vladimir]. I wish him the best of luck.”

Guerrero left the visitors’ clubhouse at Shea Stadium before speaking with reporters. Manager Glenn Hoffman said he took the news well.

“Wilton hugged me and thanked us for the opportunity we gave him here,” Hoffman said. “This is a good opportunity for him.”

*

After consulting with a physician Friday about his injured left wrist, Bobby Bonilla will try to continue playing this season.

The Dodger infielder-outfielder was examined in New York by Charles Malone, who performed surgery on his wrist Dec. 18. Bonilla said he received a cortisone shot from Malone, and that he was cleared to resume his rehabilitation program next week.

Partly because of Bonilla’s injury, the St. Louis Cardinals killed a proposed trade that would have sent outfielder Ron Gant to the Dodgers.

“It’s still going to take some time, but Dr. Malone told me that I’ll be able to keep it going,” Bonilla said. “He said I should be fine with the shot he gave me, meaning that I can play.”

Bonilla has been on the disabled list since July 17 (retroactive to July 15) because of tendinitis.

Tonight

DODGERS’ CARLOS PEREZ (7-10, 3.75 ERA) vs. METS’ RICK REED (11-7, 2.75 ERA)

Shea Stadium, 4 PDT

TV--Channel 5. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--Perez is has been penciled in for the start, but rookie right-hander Mike Judd might get the assignment.