Dreifort, Dodgers Close

The Dodgers and the agent for Darren Dreifort moved closer Saturday to agreeing to a multiyear contract that would make the third-year starter one of baseball’s highest-paid pitchers.

Word emerged at the winter meetings here that General Manager Kevin Malone and Scott Boras, Dreifort’s agent, had finalized a five-year, $57.5-million package--$2.5 million more than Dreifort had initially sought.

Both sides denied a deal had been completed, but Malone and Boras confirmed they made progress on a five-year package for the 28-year-old right-hander, who is 33-34 as a starter.

But sources said the Colorado Rockies are still fighting for Dreifort despite strong signs pointing to him remaining with the Dodgers, leaving many wondering what Boras will do next.

“I’ve heard a lot of those rumors flying around out there, but nothing is completed from our standpoint,” Boras said. “We’ve been working and we’ve made progress in areas but we don’t have anything done at this point.”

However, agents of pitchers the Dodgers might want if Dreifort signs elsewhere said the club is no longer pursuing their clients.

Moreover, baseball officials from other teams said that the Dodgers are not worried about having to replace their No. 3 starter.

Sources said that although Malone and Boras apparently have agreed on contract parameters, they have not resolved “structure” issues that are important.

One baseball official said Dreifort’s first-year salary under the deal concerns the Dodgers because of Chan Ho Park’s situation.

Park, whom Boras also represents, is eligible for arbitration.

What Dreifort earns in 2001 will affect the Dodgers’ talks with their No. 2 starter, who can become a free agent after next season. Park was 18-10 with a 3.27 earned-run average and 217 strikeouts in 2000, and his arbitration bid would likely seek more than Dreifort makes next season based on the pitchers’ respective seasons. Dreifort was 12-9 last season with a 4.16 ERA and 164 strikeouts.

“I’m not going to discuss details, but the people saying we have a deal done are wrong,” Malone said. “I met with Scott [on Saturday] and had a good talk, but that’s it.

“Saying that we’ve got a deal done would just be inaccurate. Saying that we feel good about our progress would be accurate.”

Boras intimated that the fine points of the contract will determine whether an agreement will be finalized soon.

“Whenever you get into these deals you always have ‘deal points’ for each team,” Boras said. “Baseball brings you here--but counting marbles gets deals done.”

Colorado is aggressively pursuing Dreifort, whom Chairman Bob Daly is determined to retain because of the Dodgers’ emphasis on bolstering the rotation.

The Rockies are considered to be on the fast track in the National League West because of their major free-agent acquisitions, committing $172.5 million in acquiring pitchers Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle. And the Rockies aren’t resting.

“We really like him a lot,” Colorado General Manager Dan O’Dowd said of Dreifort, who met with club officials Wednesday at Coors Field.

“We think he’s the type of pitcher really suited to our field, or any field, and we just love his upside. It would be very fair to say that we’re still very interested in Darren Dreifort.”

Boras is scheduled to meet today with both Malone and O’Dowd, and an announcement is expected before the meetings end Tuesday.

It’s unclear whether the Rockies will match the Dodgers’ final offer, or whether the Dodgers are willing to commit more than $55 million to Dreifort, who is 39-45 with a 4.28 earned-run average in his career.

Meanwhile, Dodger sources said Dreifort, at his off-season home in Wichita, Kan., has been deluged with phone calls from teammates and friends in the organization the last few days, urging him to remain with the club.

The Dodgers acknowledge that losing Dreifort would be a major setback, and watching him pitch for a division rival would increase their frustration.

“We think this is the right situation and the right environment for Darren, and we think he knows that too,” Malone said. “The pressure is not on Darren to be a No. 1 or 2 here.

“Darren knows about the support system we have here and about our commitment to him. He has Brownie [Kevin Brown] and Chan Ho here, and we feel strongly that this is the right place for him.”

The Rockies feel similarly about their organization.

“We see him as a solid No. 3 who could become a lot better than that in the right environment and the right situation,” O’Dowd said. “We also believe we have the people in place who can help make that happen for Darren.”