GM Decision Getting Close

The Dodger general manager derby is going into the homestretch.

Dave Dombrowski, general manager of the Florida Marlins, and Kevin Malone, assistant general manager of the Baltimore Orioles, are the top candidates to take the organization’s reins, with a final round of interviews next week. They are believed to be among four finalists--including Jim Bowden, general manager of the Cincinnati Reds, and Bob Watson, former general manager of the New York Yankees.

But what will the winner be getting himself into?

“There is a lot of work to do, and I think everyone in the organization recognizes that,” President Bob Graziano said. “We have been through some difficult times, and our fans have been affected by the changes we had to make to move forward. But that’s done now, and we’re looking to the future.”

Interim General Manager Tom Lasorda and Manager Glenn Hoffman will be part of that future.

Graziano considers Lasorda a valuable resource and said he won’t permit Lasorda’s successor to push him aside. Lasorda and Ralph Avila, a vice president, will remain among Graziano’s top advisors.

And even if the incoming general manager hires a new manager, Hoffman will retain an important position within the organization, Graziano said. Many club officials believe the hard-working Hoffman deserves at least another season in his current post because they acknowledge that his task was virtually impossible this season.

Hoffman has the support of Graziano and Lasorda, but Graziano will give the new general manager control in baseball operations. That might not be good news for other longtime decision makers.

The Dodgers have been plagued by poor free-agent drafts throughout the decade, and several officials might be ousted.

Graziano has been supportive of his front-office staff, but sources said that Charlie Blaney, vice president of minor league operations, and Terry Reynolds, director of scouting, might not remain with the organization after the new general manager assumes control. Blaney and Reynolds, who each served as director of Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla., don’t have backgrounds in player evaluation.

Graziano isn’t oblivious to the speculation.

“I will support whatever evaluations and recommendations [the new general manager makes] to improve baseball operations,” Graziano said. “It’s an extremely important job, and all of our candidates for the position understand what the responsibilities are.”

Contrary to speculation, the new general manager won’t have to cut the payroll. Graziano and Fox Group officials are committed to keeping it in the $60-million range, but they must increase revenue--primarily through more signage at Dodger Stadium, for now--to do that.

ON DECK

* Opponent--San Francisco Giants, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Channel 5 tonight, Channel 11 Saturday, Fox Sports West 2 Sunday.

* Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 70-70, Giants 76-64.

* Record vs. Giants--3-3.

* Tickets--(213) 224-1448

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT (7-12, 3.95 ERA) vs. GIANTS’ SHAWN ESTES (7-8, 4.42 ERA)

* Update--This series marks the Giants’ final appearance at Dodger Stadium in 1998. Dreifort, who has pitched 173 innings, is seventh in the National League with 160 strikeouts.

Saturday, 1 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (11-8, 3.91) vs. Orel Hershiser (9-9, 4.13).

Sunday, 5 p.m.--Brian Bohanon (6-8, 2.71) vs. Mark Gardner (11-5, 4.76).