Malone Has His Finger on the Button

General Manager Kevin Malone worked the phones Monday in an attempt to identify trade possibilities, hoping to foist the Dodgers’ high-priced problems on his counterparts.

Trading second baseman Eric Young and pitcher Carlos Perez top his wish list, but industry sources said the Dodger player-personnel boss also has proposed transactions involving other key veterans on the 25-man roster.

However, to this point, Malone has been running into walls.

Not surprisingly, there has been zero interest in Perez, who is 2-10 with a 7.43 earned-run average. Perez, who was finally demoted to the bullpen Saturday, is making $3 million this season.

The left-hander has $12.6 million remaining on the three-year contract that Malone gave him in the off-season. The Dodgers are considering sending Perez to triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday to make room for Robinson Checo, who has been promoted to take Perez’s spot in the rotation.

“I signed my contract to be here, so I want to stay here,” Perez said. “I’m the type of player who wants to stay and pitch for my team [for the length of his contract]. But I have no control over what they want to do with me. If they want to do that [send him to the minors], then I guess there’s nothing I can do about it.

“All I know is that I’m a starting pitcher, and I’ve always been a starting pitcher. I’m struggling right now, but I’ve had good [statistics] in my career. I know what I can do. We have a lot of guys struggling, not only me. If they want to trade me, then I’ll just go someplace else.”

The Young situation also has been a headache for Malone.

Manager Davey Johnson benched Young on Saturday, saying the speedy leadoff batter needs time to recover from the leg and ankle injures he has endured throughout the season. But team sources said that’s simply a ruse.

The reality is that Dodger officials have been dissatisfied with Young’s performance for some time. Young is owed $9 million under the final two years of his contract, and Malone has repeatedly failed in attempts to include Young in package deals.

Young has declined comment on trade speculation. He has been working with team trainers while watching from the bench, and Young has told Malone and Johnson that he believes he needs to be assigned to the disabled list.

Although Young won’t comment, sources close to the situation said Young feels Johnson has turned on him during his difficult time. Publicly, the Dodgers are saying Young remains in their plans.

Of course, that stance might change if Dodger President Bob Graziano permits Malone to assume most of the remainder of Young’s contract in an attempt to make him easier to trade. Malone told Young’s agent, Danny Horwits, that he probably won’t trade Young before the upcoming deadline.

“Kevin has told me that they [the Dodgers] like E.Y., they just want him to get healthy,” Horwits said. “That’s really all we have to go on right now. E.Y. needs time to get healthy, so we just have to wait and see.”

*

Jaime Jarrin, the Dodgers’ lead Spanish-language broadcaster, was honored during a pregame ceremony Monday night. Jarrin was inducted into the Hall of Fame last season.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (6-8, 6.16 ERA)

vs.

REDS’ BRETT TOMKO (3-5, 4.93 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Park had a quality start in his last outing Thursday, but the right-hander still lost. He gave up six hits and three runs in 6 2/3 innings in a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies during the first game of a doubleheader at Dodger Stadium. Park had a season-high nine strikeouts, but he gave up another home run. Park leads the staff in that category, giving up 24 homers in 109 2/3 innings. Tomko has given up only four earned runs in his last 22 innings. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 2.70 earned-run average in five starts against the Dodgers.