Dodgers Seem Close to Landing Green

Trying to reach an agreement to acquire Shawn Green, Dodger officials met with the agent for the Toronto Blue Jay all-star outfielder Saturday and are expected to resume discussions today, baseball sources said.

New Dodger Chairman Robert Daly and General Manager Kevin Malone represented the ballclub during the lengthy meeting at the Newport Beach office of Green’s agent, Jeff Moorad.

Toronto President and General Manager Gord Ash granted permission for the Dodgers to meet with Green and Moorad because Green, a Southland native, expressed his desire to play for the Dodgers after contract extension discussions between Ash and Moorad collapsed late Friday night, sources said.

Malone declined comment Saturday when contacted at the general managers’ meetings in Dana Point. Moorad was unavailable for comment.

The Dodgers are prepared to send disgruntled outfielder Raul Mondesi, whom Moorad also represents, to Toronto in a multi-player trade to acquire the power-hitting left-handed batter. However, the Dodgers are unwilling to complete the proposed deal unless Green agrees to a multiyear contract.

The former Tustin High standout, eligible for free agency after the 2000 season, rejected the Blue Jays’ initial five-year, $50-million offer. Moorad is negotiating with the Dodgers exclusively at this point, but the Dodgers’ window is expected to close Monday because Green, who turns 27 on Wednesday, is coveted by several major-market teams.

The Blue Jays are resigned to trading Green and they want to accommodate him, but Ash has many offers on the table. The Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies and New York Yankees are eager to move to the front of the Green sweepstakes, making the upcoming negotiating session crucial for the Dodgers.

At issue are the length and total value of the deal the Dodgers want Green to accept.

Moorad has repeatedly declined comment on the parameters of the deal he’s seeking for Green, but sources said Green might command a free-agent contract in the range $15 million annually.

The Blue Jays had planned to increase their offer to Green substantially, but were forced to refocus their efforts on trading him. Green made $2.825 million in 1999--the final year of a two-year deal.

The Green situation marks the first major test for Daly in only his second week at Chavez Ravine.

The former Warner Bros. studio chief was considered among the savviest entertainment negotiators, and sources said Daly has taken the Dodgers’ helm in this venture. He has been involved throughout every step of the process, and will ultimately make the decision.

Daly does not have to consult Fox officials but probably will because of the dollars involved. Senior Vice President Tom Lasorda is one of Daly’s top advisors, and Lasorda is among Green’s biggest admirers in the organization.

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Pitcher Danys Baez, who defected from the Cuban national team during the Pan American Games this summer, signed a four-year, $14.5-million contract with the Cleveland Indians.

The 22-year-old right-hander throws a fastball in the mid-90s and Cleveland General Manager John Hart said Baez could possibly pitch in the majors next season.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story.