Tapani Was Malone’s First Choice

The Dodgers tried to reacquire pitcher Kevin Tapani from the Chicago Cubs before settling for Ismael Valdes, baseball sources said Thursday.

General Manager Kevin Malone reacquired Valdes, whom he traded to the Cubs in December because of questions about his desire, for two minor leaguers Wednesday.

But Tapani, who pitched briefly for the Dodgers in 1995, was the top Cub pitcher on the Dodgers’ list.

Malone refocused his efforts on Valdes, despite his poor first-half performance, because Tapani declined to waive his no-trade clause.

Aware of Valdes’ reputation, Malone sought several veterans’ opinions about the enigmatic pitcher. He might not have made the deal had players said Valdes’ presence would affect the Dodgers’ positive clubhouse environment, but Malone was told not to worry.

“Anybody can change, and you have to give him the benefit of the doubt,” said all-star left fielder Gary Sheffield, one of the players Malone consulted. “He has great stuff, he has the potential to be a 20-game winner, it’s just a matter of can he go out and put it on the line for his teammates.

“Our team is different now [from Valdes’ previous stint]. It’s different now because the players get involved. We don’t baby anybody; it’s go out there and do it. With that feedback, I think he’ll respond because he has no choice.”

Mark Grudzielanek said that he agrees.

“I know he’s been up and down with Chicago, but, no question, he’s got tremendous ability,” the second baseman said. “Hopefully, he’ll come out with the right attitude and pitch the way he can.”

Manager Davey Johnson said he has not determined when Valdes, who joins the club today in Philadelphia, will make his debut in his second Dodger tenure.

Valdes, 2-4 with a 5.37 earned-run average, would have taken his usual turn for the Cubs today. Darren Dreifort is scheduled to start against the Phillies in the opener of a three-game series at Veterans Stadium, and Johnson wants Dreifort, Kevin Brown and Chan Ho Park to remain on their regular schedules.

Johnson said Valdes might work out of the bullpen once or twice before starting Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium. Whatever Johnson wants is fine with Valdes, who said he’s happy again after a bad Chicago experience.

“The only thing I can tell you is that I gave my best effort every time,” said Valdes, who can become a free agent after the season. “Things didn’t go well, but I did the best I could. I get healthy and then I get traded.”

*

Catcher Todd Hundley was activated off the disabled list the second time this season before Thursday’s 16-11 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The switch-hitter sat out 16 games after suffering a broken right thumb July 7 in a 3-2, 11-inning interleague victory over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. He also was sidelined 24 games because of a rib cage injury.

He started and was two for four with two runs scored, raising his batting average to .321.

The Dodgers optioned catcher Paul LoDuca to triple-A Albuquerque, the second time this season, to make room for Hundley on the 25-man roster. Johnson had considered carrying three catchers because LoDuca played well, but LoDuca was sent down because of roster issues.

“To send him out was tough,” Johnson said. “He’s a gamer and he knows how to play. Unfortunately, the one area we have depth is catching.”

*

The Dodgers moved a step closer to remaining at Dodgertown for spring training when officials in Vero Beach, Fla., approved a $20-million proposal to improve the sprawling complex.

In a 3-1 vote, the Indian River county commissioners approved a “memorandum of understanding,” outlining a plan to purchase Dodgertown from the Dodgers and lease it to them after the make-over. The Vero Beach city council voted 4-1 to approve.

The process now moves to the state level, and Oct. 1 is the next key date for agreements to be reached.

“It’s a significant step in the process, but it doesn’t mean a deal is done,” said Bob Graziano, team president. “Now, we have to start working on different areas at the state level.”

Although it appears the Dodgers will return to Vero Beach, a proposed multi-team facility Las Vegas remains under consideration.

*

Johnson made it official, saying Jeff Shaw has regained the full-time closer’s job.

“For me, he’s done enough for us to go back there,” Johnson said of Shaw, who has worked 6 1/3 scoreless innings since returning from the disabled list. “I don’t know what caused the weakness [in his pitching shoulder], but I have confidence in him again. I’m there.”

Shaw leads the club with 15 saves.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Philadelphia Phillies, three games.

* Site--Veterans Stadium.

* Today--4:30 p.m. PDT.

* TV--Channel 5 Saturday, Fox Sports Net 2 Sunday.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 54-47, Phillies 44-56.

* Record vs. Phillies--1-2.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

DARREN DREIFORT

(6-7, 4.74 ERA)

vs.

PHILLIES’

OMAR DAAL

(2-10, 7.22 ERA)

* Update--Dreifort has victories in two starts since the All-Star break. He had an outstanding seven-inning outing Sunday in a 5-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. The right-hander gave up only two hits and struck out nine with a walk. Daal, who pitched for the Dodgers for parts of three seasons, is one of four players the Phillies acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in Wednesday’s Curt Schilling trade.

* Saturday, 4 p.m. PDT--Kevin Brown (10-3, 2.31) vs. Paul Byrd (2-9, 6.51).

* Sunday, 10:30 a.m. PDT--Chan Ho Park (11-7, 4.14) vs. Randy Wolf (8-5, 3.69).