Perez Will Remain With Team for a While

The Dodgers and Carlos Perez made a deal to delay making difficult decisions about the high-priced pitcher’s situation, team officials said Monday.

Perez agreed to temporarily waive his right to reject being optioned to the minor leagues, and the club agreed to keep him on the 25-man roster until May 31. Perez will soon have five years service time, and the collective bargaining agreement gives players the ability to refuse going to the minors at that point.

If the Dodgers had tried to send Perez to the minors and he refused, the club would have been forced to release him and pay the remainder of his $15.6-million contract.

The Dodgers hope Perez, scheduled to start Wednesday against Atlanta, will continue to show improvement and retain a spot in the rotation. For his cooperation, Perez has been assured the club won’t ship him back and forth between the Dodgers and Dukes.

If the Dodgers remain concerned about Perez by their mutual deadline, they will seek another extension. Perez has already indicated he’s willing to do whatever the club decides is best.

Perez is owed $5 million this season, and $7.5 million next under the final two years of his three-year deal. Malone said Perez didn’t receive money or other incentives to agree to the arrangement.

“They didn’t have to give me anything,” said Perez, who will have five years in the big leagues May 6. “They pay me to work, so I have to pay them back. I have to help my team.”

Not surprisingly, Perez’s attitude pleases the Dodgers.

“We all feel good about this,” said General Manager Kevin Malone, who worked with the Major League Players Assn. on the agreement. “Carlos has made it so we don’t have to worry about the five-year rule now, and we have another month to evaluate him.

“Carlos said he wanted to do what was best for the team, but he doesn’t believe this is going to be an issue [at the new deadline] because he’s pitching well now. He believes he’s making the necessary strides and improvements to get back to his top form of 1998.”

That made it easier for Perez to waive the right.

“Everything is going real good,” Perez said. “I’m feeling more comfortable on the mound each start.

“I’m not worried about throwing hard, I’m just worried about getting my pitches right. I trust my pitches now, and I’m throwing them at any time.”

Perez is 2-1 with a 4.62 ERA.

Even if Perez doesn’t fare well in his next few starts, Malone said the club won’t release him.

*

The Dodgers received a scare before the game when outfielder Gary Sheffield slipped on a ball during batting practice and further injured his sprained right ankle.

Sheffield had to be helped off the field, and Davey Johnson considered scratching him from the starting lineup. Sheffield decided to play after consulting with trainer Stan Johnston and hitting off a batting tee about 45 minutes before the opening pitch. He had his ankle taped more heavily than usual.

*

Reliever Gregg Olson (right forearm strain) might begin a rehabilitation assignment at Class-A San Bernardino after pitching off the mound Wednesday, Johnson said. The right-hander’s arm responded well after his recent bullpen session. . . . Reliever Antonio Osuna might be activated from the 15-day disabled list within a week, Johnson said. Osuna, recovering from elbow surgery, hasn’t been charged with an earned run in 4 2/3 innings at Albuquerque.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

CHAN HO PARK

(3-2, 4.60 ERA)

vs.

BRAVES’

TERRY MULHOLLAND

(3-2, 4.45 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Park has experienced blister problems in his last two starts. A large blister formed on his right middle finger during an outing against the Cincinnati Reds on April 23, and a smaller one while he faced the Braves last Thursday at Turner Field. The blister affected his command in Atlanta’s 6-3 victory. Park walked seven in 5 1/3 innings, matching his career high. He gave up eight hits and six runs. “It’s feeling good now,” Park said. “The skin is getting harder. I think it will be OK.” Mulholland earned the victory in the final game of the series at Atlanta. The left-hander gave up five hits in seven innings--the only run against him coming on Kevin Elster’s home run.