Dodgers Let Brown Know He’s Wanted

Free-agent right-hander Kevin Brown got a sales pitch Wednesday on all the reasons he should agree to wear Dodger blue.

All but the biggest reason: money.

But be assured, an offer is soon to follow.

Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone, having failed in the Randy Johnson sweepstakes, made it clear Wednesday he is leaping into the Brown bidding, checkbook in hand, after spending the day with Brown and his agent, Scott Boras.

Boras has indicated that applicants should be thinking in terms of six years and around $80 million for Brown, who turns 34 in March.

Malone said he intends to speak again with Boras over the next few days to get the specific timetable for negotiations.

The Dodgers’ most serious competition for Brown, who pitched for the San Diego Padres last season, appears to be the St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles. The Angels also have met with Brown and the Padres maintain that they are still in the hunt.

“They got a feel for my commitment,” Malone said of Brown and Boras, “my drive, my passion.

“I think we are the best fit for Kevin. We have a ballpark conducive to pitching, a balanced attack and he likes the fact that we have [Manager] Davey Johnson, a winner.”

Asked about reports that the Dodgers are not Brown’s first choice, Malone replied, “I’m optimistic. A lot of people consider me an eternal optimist.”