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Ashby Changes the Signs

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

The Dodgers moved closer Wednesday to completing their pitching plans for next season, agreeing to terms with free-agent pitcher Andy Ashby less than 24 hours after publicly rescinding their offer.

Chairman Bob Daly had abruptly ended talks Tuesday with Ashby’s agent, Adam Katz, because of the right-hander’s reluctance to agree to a three-year, $22.5-million contract--with a vesting fourth-year option--that the Dodgers believed had been finalized last week.

Darren Dreifort is next on Daly’s free-agent agenda.

The Dodgers hope to re-sign the right-hander during the winter meetings, beginning Friday at Dallas.

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Retaining Dreifort and signing Ashby, projected as a No. 4 starter, would be a best-case scenario for the Dodgers, who finished second behind the Colorado Rockies in bidding for left-hander Denny Neagle and the New York Mets for right-hander Rick Reed.

That would give the Dodgers a seemingly formidable rotation, also including Kevin Brown, Ashby’s friend and former San Diego Padre teammate; Chan Ho Park; and second-year starter Eric Gagne.

“We said all along that our hope was to try to sign two quality pitchers, and this is a big step in the right direction,” Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone said in a conference call with reporters.

“Andy Ashby is a quality pitcher and a quality person. He’s a hard worker and a winner, and you can’t ask for any more than that.”

The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals also had been aggressively pursuing Ashby, and the Dodgers, tired of being used by free agents under Fox, withdrew their offer despite few options in a shrinking pitching pool.

The Dodgers informed reporters of their decision, declining to discuss specifics but indicating the situation appeared beyond repair.

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However, circumstances changed.

Katz and Ashby spoke with Daly and Malone Wednesday morning, trying to salvage a deal because Ashby decided the Dodgers were his best option.

Ashby stressed that he wanted to be a Dodger, persuading Daly to erase the line in the sand.

Despite appearances to the contrary, Ashby said the Dodgers had been his top choice from the outset.

“We had been talking for a long, long time, and I’d like to thank Bob and Kevin for giving me extra time to think about everything,” said Ashby, speaking from his off-season home in Pittston, Pa. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to sign with the Dodgers, I just wanted to make sure and take time to make the right decision.

“We had a personal thing going on with my mom’s uncle [Tuesday] and I really wasn’t thinking about what was going on [with the Dodgers]. Then I heard that they took the deal off, and I felt I should explain what happened to Bob. I said I still wanted to be a Dodger and he said, ‘The deal is there if you still want it.’ I’m glad everything worked out.”

Said Katz: “It got a little unsettling for the Dodgers because they thought it would move a little faster, and I understand that. I wanted it to move quickly too.”

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Ashby, 33, didn’t come cheaply, but such is the price of pitching.

The Dodgers don’t reveal contract terms. Katz also declined comment, but sources said Ashby, who made $5.9 million last season, will receive a $1.5-million signing bonus and $5.5 million in 2001.

He will make $7.5 million in 2002 and $8 million in 2003. The $8.5-million option year will be exercised if Ashby pitches at least 175 innings in the third year, making the package worth $31 million.

The Atlanta Braves also will receive a draft pick from the Dodgers as compensation for losing Ashby.

With Ashby under contract, the Dodgers are committed to paying 16 players $83.8 million next season--not including Dreifort and the arbitration-eligible Park.

Dreifort wants a five-year, $55-million deal, and Park might command more than $10 million a season.

Not surprisingly, the Dodgers preferred to focus on baseball instead of economics.

“This is a great signing,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “This is a guy who, two years ago, was one of the best pitchers in the game.

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“He was great following Brownie with the Padres and he always pitches well at Dodger Stadium. He fits in well with our rotation. Like I said, great sign.”

The Dodgers wanted Ashby because he had his best season pitching behind Brown in 1998--17-9 with a 3.34 earned-run average and 151 strikeouts in 226 2/3 innings--and has pitched well against the Dodgers in eight-plus seasons.

Ashby had his best stretch against the Dodgers from 1997-99, going 4-1 (in six starts) with a 2.11 ERA, 30 strikeouts and only nine walks in 42 2/3 innings.

He was 12-13 with a 4.92 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies and Braves last season, and is a sub-.500 pitcher (84-87) in his career.

The Dodgers believe Ashby will revert to ’98 form working near the back of their rotation, and he’s eager to join the group.

“Kevin Brown is a good friend of mine, and I’ve been watching these other guys for a long time,” Ashby said. “They’re all great pitchers, and I’m just really looking forward to trying to help the Dodgers get back in the playoffs again. We could have a lot of fun.”

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

L.A. Story

Andy Ashby’s career statistics at Dodger Stadium:

Games: 11

Innings: 69 2/3

ERA: 3.73

Wins: 6

Losses: 1

Note--Ashby didn’t pitch at Dodger Stadium last season.

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ANGELS

Shortstop DiSarcina is signed to an incentive-laden minor league contract. D8

Andy Ashby File

* Born: July 11, 1967

* Height / Weight: 6-1, 202

* Throws: Right-handed

* Major league service: 10 seasons

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MAJOR LEAGUE STATISTICS

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Year Team GS W L ERA ShO 1991 Phi 8 1 5 6.00 0 1992 Phi 10 1 3 7.54 0 1993 Col-SD 21 3 10 6.80 0 1994 SD 24 6 11 3.40 0 1995 SD 31 12 10 2.94 2 1996 SD 24 9 5 3.23 0 1997 SD 30 9 11 4.13 0 1998 SD 33 17 9 3.34 1 1999 SD 31 14 10 3.80 3 2000 Phi/Atl 31 12 13 4.92 3 Total 241 84 87 4.10 7

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