THE DEAL MAKERS

Kevin Malone figured the Dodgers would be criticized for signing pitcher Kevin Brown to a groundbreaking, $105-million contract.

The general manager braced for the fallout here at the winter meetings because pushing salaries higher is never well received by baseball officials. The reaction was worse than Malone had anticipated.

But he doesn’t care.

Malone plans to revitalize the Dodgers, and the player-personnel boss says he won’t be deterred by public opinion. The new Dodger regime is being led by a young risk taker and aggressive deal maker, who is determined to keep pressure on opponents while they denounce his methods.

“I believe that you have to take risks in life, and I’m willing to take risks to try to accomplish something very special for the Dodgers,” Malone said during a rare moment of relaxation. “I don’t just want to win a championship, I want to win championships. I want us to distinguish ourselves, as soon as possible, as the best organization in baseball and the best team.

“Sure, I could play it safe, but the people who play it safe never really accomplish anything. They’re always in the middle of the pack. To be special, to be distinct, you have to take risks. But those are calculated risks and well thought-out risks. I’m not going to take them haphazardly, and we’re not going to take them unless we feel the rewards are worth the risks. But when your goals are set that high, and your expectations are to reach those goals, you have to take risks.”

He certainly did Saturday.

Malone was the Dodgers’ point man in the pursuit of Brown, considered the top pitcher in this free-agent market. With Brown’s agent, Scott Boras, Malone put together a deal that has been the talk of baseball because of its potential impact on the market.

The Dodgers made Brown the game’s first $100-million player, signing the all-star right-hander to a seven-year deal that has been castigated by executives throughout the major leagues. The Dodgers have historically been among the most despised clubs anyway, because of their history of success, but the Brown deal has made them targets on an unprecedented level.

Again, Malone isn’t losing sleep.

“The Dodgers have to show the industry that we’re going to be aggressive,” Malone said. “The way we approach the game is going to be an aggressive approach on the field, and an aggressive approach with our [front-office] management team.

“A lot of people are afraid of that because we are determined to be successful again. That bothers people, to know that we’re determined to be a force again, that we’re a threat again. I don’t think the Dodgers were a threat for a while--but that’s not the case anymore.”

When he was hired in September, Malone, 41, inherited an operation in disrepair. Industry sources said the former Dodger decision makers were too often passive.

For better or worse, Malone doesn’t sit on his hands.

“What we’ve tried to do, and it has been a little over three months now, is establish that we’re back,” he said. “It’s funny that people either love us or hate us right now. And a lot of people hate us--but that’s fine. They know who the Dodgers are again, and you can bet they’re thinking about us again. For many years, the Dodgers weren’t being talked about at all. They’re talking about the Dodgers today, and they’re going to be talking about the Dodgers for as long as I’m here.

“The key is changing the attitude, changing the philosophy and changing the approach to the way the Dodgers have done things. You can’t be followers. We’ve been followers for a long time, and we’re not doing that anymore. We’re being aggressive and taking no prisoners captive. We’re getting after it and we’re going back to the top. So if you want to be on the bandwagon, then jump on now. If you don’t, then get out of the way, because that’s the way we’re headed.”

Such strong comments would alarm most team presidents, or at least prompt closed-door meetings with their general managers about diplomacy. But that’s not the new Dodgers’ mind-set. Team President Bob Graziano encourages Malone’s outlook and effort.

“Kevin’s ability to be aggressive, find the right deals and close deals is critical,” Graziano said. “We’re committed to being a championship-caliber club, and I don’t want a general manager who is risk averse.”

Boras praised Malone’s approach in their recent negotiations, saying the process was completed because Malone made it happen.

“There were many things that were important to [Brown] that Kevin understood and was committed to addressing,” Boras said.

Of course, the Dodgers have deep pockets, so many might suggest that anyone could have filled Malone’s role. Brown disagreed.

“Kevin played a big part in my decision,” Brown said Saturday. “The things he told me made me see that this could work.”

Malone said acquiring Brown took more than money.

“There were at least two, and probably three clubs, that were going to pay as much or more than we were,” Malone said. “There was a lot of money involved in this, but it wasn’t all about that. This man was looking for a commitment to success, he wanted to go somewhere he thought he could win not one championship but many championships.

“He came here to fit his personal goals and fit his career goals. He liked [News Corp. co-chief operating officers] Chase Carey and Peter Chernin, he liked Bob Graziano and, somehow, he liked Kevin Malone.”

And in baseball now, that puts Brown in the minority.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

KEVIN MALONE

DODGER GENERAL MANAGER

Age: 41

Family: Married, two children

Baseball executive background: Southern California scout for the Angels (1985-87). Hitting instructor for Montreal Expos at Class-A Jamestown (1988). East Coast scouting supervisor for Minnesota Twins (1989-1991). Director of scouting, Montreal Expos (1991-94). General Manager, Montreal Expos (1994-95). Assistant general manager, Baltimore Orioles (1995-98).

DODGER DEALS

Since he was hired Sept. 11, Malone has signed Davey Johnson to a three-year contract to become manager, made two trades, including catcher Charles Johnson and outfielder Roger Cedeno to the New York Mets for catcher Todd Hundley, and spend $143 million on four players, including a record seven-year, $105-million contract for pitcher Kevin Brown.