Mlicki, Rojas Traded to Tigers

In a move to cut payroll and replenish their depleted farm system, the Dodgers on Friday traded veteran pitchers Dave Mlicki and Mel Rojas to the Detroit Tigers for three minor league pitching prospects.

The Dodgers received right-handers Robinson Checo and Apostol Garcia and left-hander Richard Roberts. The pitching-thin Tigers got Mlicki, who moves from the Dodger bullpen into the Detroit starting rotation, and the struggling Rojas.

Checo, 27, was added to the Dodger 25-man roster, taking Mlicki’s spot. Reliever Antonio Osuna, activated from the 15-day disabled list in another roster move Friday, moves into the spot vacated by Rojas.

Garcia, 22, is scheduled to report to double-A San Antonio, and Roberts, 19, is headed to Class-A ball. Rojas is slated for long relief in Detroit, unless Tiger General Manager Randy Smith can move him in another deal, which he hopes to do soon.

Dodger Manager Davey Johnson phoned Larry Parrish, his Detroit counterpart, on Friday, telling him “you got a good one,” in reference to Mlicki.

Industry sources said Dodger General Kevin Malone made the move to trim the team’s $84-million payroll, second only to that of the New York Yankees.

The Tigers will pay the remainder of Mlicki’s $2.25-million salary this season, but the Dodgers are on the hook for all but a few hundred thousand of Rojas’ salary. Rojas is making $4.5 million, and the Dodgers also had to pay $1 million of the $11.8 million remaining on Bobby Bonilla’s contract to complete the Rojas-Bonilla deal in November.

In effect, the Dodgers are paying Rojas more than $5 million not to pitch for them--and that may be money well spent.

Rojas left town with a 12.60 earned-run average in five appearances, giving up three home runs in five innings.

Malone and Smith began discussing a trade involving Mlicki last week. Malone brought up Rojas’ name Thursday because the Dodgers were simply planning on releasing him.

“A new league probably could be good,” Rojas said.

Malone acknowledged financial considerations were a factor, but he downplayed the role that had in his decision.

“That was part of the equation, but it wasn’t the most important piece of the puzzle,” Malone said. “My goal when I came here was two-fold: To be contenders for a championship and to improve our farm system. We needed depth and we needed prospects.”

Contacted at home, Mlicki said he was pleased about the trade.

“At first, I was a little shocked because I hadn’t heard anything [trade speculation] for a while, but when everything quiets down is when it happens,” said Mlicki, who was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two relief appearances for the Dodgers. “I’m thrilled now because this is an excellent opportunity for me. I wasn’t able to start on the Dodgers, but that’s nothing to be ashamed of with their rotation.”

Not surprisingly, Malone hailed the deal.

“This was in everyone’s best interest,” Malone said. “Dave wasn’t going to get the innings he needed here, and we needed to add some young arms.

“The reports on the prospects we got are good; they’re their Nos. 6, 10 and 11 prospects. So this deal helps the Dodgers, it helps Dave Mlicki and it helps the Tigers.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (0-1, 5.25 ERA)

vs.

PADRES’ STERLING HITCHCOCK (1-0, 6.75 ERA)

Qualcomm Stadium, 7

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Park struggled in his last outing, giving up five runs in five innings Monday during a 12-6 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hitchcock had a no-decision in his last start.