Dodgers Pull Offer to Ashby Off Table

The Dodgers, hoping to sign a free-agent pitcher before the winter meetings begin Friday in Dallas, rescinded their offer to Andy Ashby on Tuesday.

Sources said the Dodgers accused Ashby, also being romanced by the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox, among others, of trying to change the financial parameters and refusing to commit to an agreement that the Dodgers thought had been finalized.

Although there was a report that the Dodgers had offered Ashby $32 million for four years, sources set the offer near $21 million for three years, with a fourth-year option. They said that Ashby had accepted it before ultimately demanding more after several days of telling club officials that he needed more time to think about it.

Adam Katz, Ashby’s agent, would not discuss specifics but said, “We have no problem with the Dodgers rescinding the offer. Andy had trouble making up his mind. The Dodgers were simply following normal business practice. It’s reasonable that if a club makes an offer, they don’t want it sitting out there until February. We’re fine with it. [Dodger Chairman] Bob Daly and [General Manager] Kevin Malone are as honorable as they come.”

Derrick Hall, the club’s senior vice president, said the decision to rescind did not change the emphasis on improving the pitching and was not motivated “by any other scenario or free agent. This is an isolated case that deals specifically with this free agent.”

The Dodgers, however, are running out of alternatives as they try to improve a rotation in which the seven pitchers they used in the Nos. 4 and 5 roles last year went 11-26.

They are trying to re-sign Darren Dreifort with no assurance it will happen. And with Ashby out of the picture and Denny Neagle, the free agent left-hander they were most interested in acquiring, having signed with Colorado, their second-tier options have been reduced to Rick Reed and Kevin Appier. Appier is being strongly pursued by the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Red Sox, and may eventually command $10 million a year, and Reed is expected to re-sign with the Mets.

It was learned Tuesday that Armando Reynoso, another possibility, is close to returning to the Arizona Diamondbacks with a two-year, $6.5-million contract that includes a third-year option.

As clubs made final preparations for the winter meetings, sources said that the Philadelphia Phillies are among several clubs that have inquired into the availability of Angel closer Troy Percival. The Angels apparently are concerned about Percival’s recurring physical problems and believe Shigetoshi Hasegawa could move into the closer role. There is also increased speculation that the Angels, strangely quiet in the free-agent pitching market, would trade Tim Salmon if offered a front-line pitcher.

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Times staff writers Mike DiGiovanna and Jason Reid contributed to this story.