Perez Making Pitch to Stay, but It’s Not Convincing

The Dodgers’ agreement with Carlos Perez has expired, and the struggling pitcher’s time with the team may be running out too.

On May 31, Perez reluctantly agreed to extend the arrangement that would enable the Dodgers to send him to the minor leagues despite his right to refuse as a player with at least five years’ major league service.

The 20-day extension ended Tuesday. The Dodgers cannot option the temperamental left-hander to triple-A Albuquerque without his permission.

Perez said he isn’t going anywhere, and the Dodgers might be forced to release him if he won’t work with them. Perez remains in the rotation, but that could change when the Dodgers eventually recall rookie right-hander Eric Gagne from Albuquerque.

“I don’t even want to think about [going to the minors],” said Perez, 4-3 with a 5.73 earned-run average. “We’ve got one of the best teams in the major leagues, and I’m just happy we’re winning. I’m going to keep going and help my team win.”

The Dodgers had to persuade Perez to sign the extension, and Perez and his agents told the club they would not agree to another. That again puts the Dodgers in a difficult position because Perez is pitching poorly and they need roster flexibility.

“When it comes down to it, our [management] staff will make decisions with the best interest of the team and its potential performance in mind,” said Derrick Hall, Dodger senior vice president. “As far as what we’re going to do about Carlos, the bottom line is that he’s a member of the team.”

Perez hasn’t won since May 20. He gave up seven hits--among them two home runs--and six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s 7-6 victory over the Houston Astros.

Perez has given up 17 homers among 96 hits in only 77 innings. Opponents are batting .305 against him, and he has given up at least five earned runs in three of his last four starts.

Perez is making $5 million this season and will make $7.5 million next in the final season of a three-year, $15.6-million contract. The Dodgers don’t want to release Perez because they are on the hook for the remainder of his contract.

Some officials also worry that another team might sign Perez for the major league minimum and help him correct his problems, meaning the Dodgers would be paying the bulk of his salary and wouldn’t benefit.

But several scouts said it’s unlikely Perez will become an effective starter again because of his lack of velocity. Perez’s 83-mph fastball won’t get the job done consistently.

“Sometimes you don’t get lucky,” said Perez, 2-10 with a 7.43 ERA last season. “Yeah, I haven’t had my good stuff sometimes, and you’re going to get hit when that happens.

“But they [the Dodgers] know I do my job. I just have to keep doing my work and everything is going to be fine.”

The Dodgers remain committed to Perez, but his margin for error is decreasing.

“When [Chairman] Bob Daly, [General Manager] Kevin Malone and [Manager] Davey Johnson decided to keep Carlos in the rotation, they made a major commitment to him,” Hall said. “Now, we need him to pitch very well and become a contributor in what we expect to be a pennant race.”

*

Catcher Jim Leyritz, acquired in a trade earlier this week that sent infielder Jose Vizcaino to the New York Yankees, joined the team Thursday in Houston.

“I’m basically here to strengthen the bench and do what I can,” said Leyritz, who will be the main right-handed-batting pinch-hitter. “I enjoy pinch-hitting, I enjoy going in there with the game on the line.

“I didn’t have a lot of opportunities [with the Yankees], but I should get more here. We’ve got a lot of season left, so we’ll just see how it goes.”

*

Catcher Todd Hundley, recovering from a rib-cage injury, will begin his three-game rehabilitation assignment today at Albuquerque.

ON DECK

* Opponent--St. Louis Cardinals, three games.

* Site--Busch Stadium.

* Tonight--5 PDT.

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2 today, Channel 11 Saturday, Channel 5 Sunday.

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

* Records--Dodgers 38-32, Cardinals 41-30.

* Record vs. Cardinals--3-3.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

CHAN HO PARK

(9-4, 3.98 ERA)

vs.

CARDINALS’

ANDY BENES

(7-3, 4.59 ERA)

* Update--Park has five victories and a 2.27 ERA in his last five decisions. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA against the Cardinals this season. Benes has won three in a row and five of six.

* Saturday, 10 a.m. PDT--Orel Hershiser (1-3, 10.80) vs. Darryl Kile (10-4, 4.67).

* Sunday, 11 a.m. PDT--Kevin Brown (6-2, 2.38) vs. Rick Ankiel (6-3, 3.58).