Nomo Showcase Is Bad Show

If the Dodgers still hope to use pitcher Hideo Nomo as the centerpiece to acquire Randy Johnson, their package must improve.

Because with each run that scored during Nomo’s brief appearance Saturday afternoon, the struggling right-hander’s value plummeted. And the Dodgers were again delayed in their attempt to bring the Seattle Mariner all-star pitcher to Los Angeles.

Nomo was chased after only 3 2/3 uninspired innings in a 7-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds before 37,643 at Dodger Stadium.

He gave up seven hits and six runs, and dropped to 2-7 with a 5.05 earned-run average. Chris Stynes’ two-out, two-run single in the fourth gave the Reds a 6-1 lead and sent Nomo into the clubhouse early.

The Dodgers scored two runs in the ninth against Cincinnati reliever Scott Sullivan, but Gary Sheffield struck out to end the game.

Red starter Pete Harnisch (5-1) fared better than his Dodger counterpart, giving up six hits and a run in seven strong innings.

A similar outing by Nomo could have strengthened the Dodgers’ bid for Johnson, but that didn’t happen.

Now, the Mariner scout assigned to report on Nomo’s performance is forced to stay in town at least until tonight. Ismael Valdes, who starts today, is next up on Seattle’s list.

Executive Vice President Fred Claire and Seattle General Manager Woody Woodward have stopped commenting on the status of negotiations. But everything is on hold until today’s game.

And word emerged Saturday that the Mariners might now be leaning toward keeping Johnson, who has gone 2-0 with 25 strikeouts in his last two starts. Woodward will not make a deal, sources said, unless he is overwhelmed by an offer. So far, he hasn’t been.

“My impression is that they’re not going to do something,” New York Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman said. “I think they’re trying to win [this season].”

Meanwhile, the Dodgers faced another day of speculation about the trade talks, and they said the situation has become distracting.

“There isn’t any way you can’t be distracted by something like this,” Sheffield said. “It’s been going on for [three days] now, and it’s just kind of still out there right now.

“If it’s going to happen, you want it to happen quickly so that you can move on. This game is tough enough to compete in with the best players in the world. When something like this is out there, it’s even more difficult.”

Nomo might have been able to help end the speculation.

However, he struggled with his velocity and control. He appeared as out of sync as he did in his previous start, when he tied his career high, for the fourth time, with seven walks.

Of course, he was typically stoic Saturday after the game.

“The trade speculation has had no effect on me at all,” Nomo said through an interpreter. “I really haven’t thought about it, and I’m not going to think about it.

“If I do get traded, I’ll address that if it happens. But to talk about rumors and speculation is pointless.”

Although Claire did not offer Nomo to Seattle in a proposed package for Johnson, sources said Nomo is the pitcher the Dodgers would prefer to trade for many reasons.

Valdes and Nomo are the only starting pitchers Claire is willing to include in a deal at this point.

Although Valdes (4-6, 5.48 ERA) is struggling as well, and his heart has at times been questioned by teammates, he is only 24. Moreover, he hasn’t experienced arm problems in his four-year career.

Nomo turns 30 in August, and he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow in the off-season. The Mariners were not impressed with their most recent reports on Valdes, whom they previously requested for Johnson, but he is more attractive than Nomo right now.

If the Dodgers push the Mariners to take Nomo, sources said the deal probably would have to include outfielder Roger Cedeno and infielder/outfielder Wilton Guerrero, whom Claire does not want to trade.

Claire is holding firm, sources said, against trading pitcher Darren Dreifort, whom the Mariners initially requested in talks this week. Even if Dreifort is a deal-breaker, Claire won’t budge.

Another key factor is the San Diego Padres’ interest in Johnson.

The Padres, who are leading the Dodgers by seven games in the NL West, don’t want Johnson to wind up in L.A. But they have already declined two proposals by Seattle.

“They know we have interest,” said Fred Uhlman Jr., assistant general manager. “But we’re not going to be a pawn to drive the price higher.”

The question is, how much higher is Claire willing to go?

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Times staff writer Ross Newhan contributed to this story.