White’s L.A. Stay May Be Near End

Devon White is still a Dodger.

The veteran center fielder might not be much longer, but the Dodgers and White are linked at least another week.

It could be a long one.

The Dodgers seemingly have been dissatisfied with White from the moment General Manager Kevin Malone gave him a three-year, $12.4-million contract.

Some in the organization consider that move one of the worst of Malone’s two-year tenure, though it’s not on everyone’s top-10 list.

White has been a target of fans, stirring frustration because of his reluctance to dive for balls.

The arrangement hasn’t been much fun for White, either.

The seven-time Gold Glove winner played key roles on three World Series title teams, but his Dodger experience has been uncomfortable from the outset.

The Dodgers reacquired Tom Goodwin at the trade deadline, creating a logjam in center and making White the odd man out.

White sees the handwriting on the wall, and it’s getting bigger.

“With this organization right now, they have a situation here with me and Goodwin,” White said. “They’re going to have to address the situation at some point and decide what they want to do, but I don’t want to get too deeply into it right now.

“I hear that there’s turmoil with the general manager and manager [Davey Johnson], so I don’t know who’s going to be here and what’s going on with that. But I know I have one more year [plus an option year or $900,000 buyout] on my contract and I want to play next year. Whether that’s here or someplace else, I know I can still play as long as I’m feeling good.”

That hasn’t been the case often this season.

White, who turns 38 in December, sat out 70 games because of a torn left rotator cuff, has played in only 47 games and is batting .266 with four home runs and 13 runs batted in.

The switch-hitter has been sidelined recently because of a left quadriceps strain, last starting Aug. 25 against the Chicago Cubs.

Despite his age and injuries, White believes he could still be a productive everyday player in 2001--if given an opportunity.

“I’ve been healthy most of my career,” the 14-year veteran said. “I know it’s going to be the ‘age thing’ next season and, yeah, I’m not the same player I was when I was 30. That’s just reality.

“But I’ve kept myself in good shape, I feel good and strong, and I still have a lot of passion for this game. No doubt about that.”

The Dodgers have raised questions about White’s desire, sources said, complaining to his agent among others.

But players said that White is the same player he had been before joining the Dodgers in November 1998.

It’s not White’s fault if the Dodgers did not do their homework, getting someone other than whom they had expected.

And the Dodgers put White in a difficult position this season, having him share the leadoff role with Todd Hollandsworth.

White was a productive leadoff batter while helping the Toronto Blue Jays win consecutive World Series in 1992-93, but ill-suited to do it at this stage of his career.

Dodger leadoff batters were last in the league in batting average and on-base percentage most of the season, prompting Malone to trade Hollandsworth in a four-player deal to reacquire Goodwin from the Colorado Rockies.

Goodwin, 32, is signed through 2002 at $3.25 million a season. The club holds a $3.5-million option for 2003, or a $500,000 buyout.

White’s salary increases to $5 million in 2001 and $5.5 million in 2002, his option year, which can be bought out.

“All year I’ve been hearing that the Dodgers have to dump my salary,” White said. “Whatever happens, whether I’m here or someplace else, I’m going to play next year.

“And if I’m not here, it’s not about getting back at the Dodgers. If I play someplace else, I’m going to play hard because I have love for this game.”