Mets Want Young Included as Part of Trade for Bonilla

The Dodgers already would have a deal in place to send Bobby Bonilla to the New York Mets if they also were willing to include Eric Young, baseball sources said Saturday.

New York General Manager Steve Phillips is willing to take Bonilla, whom the Dodgers are eager to move, if the Dodgers agree to send Young, a second baseman and leadoff batter, to the Mets in a proposed multiplayer trade.

The Mets believe the speedy Young would provide the missing element in their offense, and that Bonilla, who was slowed by injuries while playing in the infield and outfield in 1998, might be productive again.

New York would assume responsibility for the $11.8 million the Dodgers owe Bonilla, in the final two years of his contract, if the Mets acquire Young. In exchange, the Mets would provide the Dodgers with bullpen help, which the team needs, and possibly an everyday player.

The move would give Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone payroll flexibility, helping the club in its attempt to sign all-star slugger Mo Vaughn, who is expected to leave the Boston Red Sox in free agency.

Malone acknowledges he has been trying to “free up money since the moment he was hired,” and trading Bonilla and Young would seemingly help. But Dodger front-office sources said that Malone is unwilling to trade Young at this point, especially in a deal involving Bonilla.

Malone considers Young to be an essential part of his plan to rebuild an organization in decay because of years of mismanagement. Contacted at home Saturday, Malone declined to comment specifically on trade proposals.

But he spoke generally about the situation with the Mets.

“I would consider trading anyone on our club to make us a better club, but I don’t see a multiplayer trade happening with the Mets,” Malone said. “In all of our discussions [with the Mets], a multi-player trade was not something that interested me.

“I am trying to create maneuverability with our payroll to address some things we’d might consider doing, and there are many people on our club who other teams are interested in. But that doesn’t mean I’m willing to trade people who we need to help the Dodgers win.”

Though Malone is unwilling to trade Young at the moment, things might change depending on Malone’s success trading other players.

Young--who signed a four-year, $18-million contract last off-season--has three years and $13.5 million remaining on his deal. Combined with what Bonilla is owed, the Dodgers would remove $25.3 million from their payroll if they accept the Mets’ proposal.

Young sat out the final 10 games this season after suffering a broken foot in a game against the Colorado Rockies. He suffered multiple fractures while sliding awkwardly into second base, and he also was slowed by quadriceps injuries, playing in only 117 games.

He finished the season batting .285 (129 hits in 452 at-bats) with eight home runs, 43 runs batted in and 78 runs. Young was fourth in the National League with 42 stolen bases, and he had a .355 on-base percentage.

Contacted at his off-season home, Young said his foot is healing well, and he hopes he remains with the Dodgers.

“I grew up with the Dodgers, and I want to help the Dodgers get back on top,” Young said. “Kevin Malone and [new Manager] Davey Johnson want to win, and that’s the same thing I want.”

A deal for Bonilla alone is still on the table, but the Dodgers would have to pay at least $4 million of his salary for it to occur.

Other hurdles to completing a deal, sources said, are that the Dodgers also believe Bonilla might be productive next season, and that they aren’t overwhelmed by the Mets’ offer.

On the Mets’ end, struggling relief pitcher Mel Rojas would be the centerpiece of their package for Bonilla.