Dreifort Contract: It’s Just a Matter of Time

Barring something going “haywire,” Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone said Sunday that free-agent pitcher Darren Dreifort will agree to contract terms today, but minor issues and Alex Rodriguez’s negotiations with other teams might delay the announcement of a deal.

Malone confirmed that the Dodgers and agent Scott Boras, negotiating at the winter meetings here, have completed the major points of a five-year proposal that Dreifort has indicated he will approve, having only “structural” language to discuss.

Malone would not discuss contract terms, but two baseball executives said the Dodgers have agreed to Dreifort’s $55-million request. Although the Dodgers reportedly had considered including deferred money, the executives said there is none in the deal.

The Colorado Rockies, who had been aggressively pursuing Dreifort, backed out of the process because it became clear the Dodgers were in closing mode.

The Dodgers hope to announce that the 28-year-old right-hander has agreed to terms today before Malone returns to Los Angeles.

But Boras also has been busy negotiating a record-setting package for Rodriguez, affecting the Dodgers’ timetable.

Boras had long meetings Sunday with the Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, finalizing offers sources said were in the 10- to 12-year range for as much as $240 million.

The Dodgers are nearing the finish line with Dreifort--but Boras will decide when the race ends.

“We should get it done today,” Malone said. “We’ve made more progress and we feel good about where we’re at with Scott.

“Right now, I’d say the issues are structural, but Scott has been busy today. He’s got some big fish to fry. Well, one big fish.”

Boras and his staff negotiated late into the evening with the teams remaining in the race to sign Rodriguez, the top free agent in this class and arguably baseball’s best player.

He met at least twice with the Rangers, negotiating for four hours with owner Tom Hicks, General Manager Doug Melvin, lawyers and club financial officers.

Atlanta General Manager John Schuerholz and the Braves’ management contingent scheduled meetings in the afternoon and evening with Boras, and Seattle General Manager Pat Gillick huddled with his staff between sessions in an attempt to improve their offer to retain their franchise player.

Boras found time to meet with Malone in the afternoon, and later spoke with Malone and Chairman Bob Daly, who remained in Los Angeles, in a conference call.

Sources said Daly decided that the contract could be completed today, instead of insisting on reaching a deal Sunday, because the fine points are not considered deal-breakers and Boras had another pressing matter.

“With Scott, if the player wants to be somewhere and you want the player, he finds a way to work it out,” Malone said. “You can get a deal done with Scott.”

The Dodgers also were accommodating because the Rockies stopped fighting.

Sources said the Rockies decided that $172.5 million worth of free-agent pitchers was enough, having committed that amount to Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle.

General Manager Dan O’Dowd had a final meeting with Boras to discuss the Rockies’ situation.

Because of payroll concerns, sources said the Rockies had hoped to creatively structure a proposal.

O’Dowd intimated the Dodgers simply wanted Dreifort more than the Rockies did.

“We really like [Dreifort], but this is not something we have to do,” O’Dowd said. “Scott has got an understanding of what he wants to do. It’s up to Scott.”

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The Dodgers are among four teams pursuing free-agent catcher Sandy Alomar, who is seeking a three-year deal in the $10-million range.

The Dodgers would prefer to sign Alomar to a one-year deal plus an option, but might be willing to guarantee two years, sources said.

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The Dodgers have raised Devon White’s name in every trade-proposal meeting they have had since arriving at the meetings, sources said.

They have been unsuccessful in stirring interest in the disgruntled center fielder, still owed $5.9 million under a three-year, $12.4-million contract.