Park’s Place Now a High-Rent District

Chairman Bob Daly has not offered pitcher Chan Ho Park a multiyear contract because of payroll concerns, and that could prove to be a costly decision.

Park’s future is a front-burner issue--even at this stage of the season--because of his importance to the club.

“Well, one of the first things I said when I got here is that I hope Chan Ho Park will be a Dodger for his whole career,” General Manager Kevin Malone said in a recent interview. “I still feel that way.”

But many baseball executives believe Park, 27, will be the top pitcher in the upcoming free-agent class, and several clubs have already positioned themselves to pursue the talented right-hander.

Park pitched seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 opening-day victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, has worked 32 scoreless innings spanning two seasons and is coming off a career-high 18 victories.

“I don’t know if they know how to lock him up right now,” said catcher Chad Kreuter, who works primarily with Park. “I mean, from a monetary standpoint, you’re talking about a guy with his ability who’s a lot younger than a lot of the top [starters].

“Yeah, you would think they would have tried to do something [in the off-season], but with salaries skyrocketing . . . it’s a management decision. Maybe they’re just trying to suck it up and take a chance for a year.”

The Dodgers are determined to retain Park and Daly has a good relationship with agent Scott Boras, who represents Park, Kreuter and six of their teammates.

It is believed Park will stay with the Dodgers, but at what price?

Boras and the Dodgers settled on a one-year, $9.9-million contract to avoid arbitration--the highest single-season salary for a pitcher with five-plus seasons.

The Colorado Rockies made Mike Hampton baseball’s highest-paid pitcher, having signed him to an eight-year, $121-million deal.

Kevin Brown had previously topped the list with the seven-year, $105-million deal Boras negotiated with Malone.

So where does Park fit?

“Chan Ho is a unique talent,” said Boras, who declined to discuss Park’s situation. “The ability has always been there, but what we’ve seen [since last season] is the maturity, understanding of the game and what he can accomplish.

“This is a young man still in the process of finding out just how good he can be. He definitely has not started to approach his ceiling.”

Because of Park’s age, Boras might seek a three- or four-year deal so that he can become a free-agent again at 31 or 32, and Park could become baseball’s first $20-million pitcher.

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say he’s going to be a Dodger for a long time,” Kreuter said. “He’s one of those guys you have to keep.”

*

Manager Jim Tracy said Brown’s right Achilles’ tendon injury has improved.

“He has gotten to the point now where he is loading the tendon, there is weight bearing on the tendon, and we are going to progress from there as far as activity,” Tracy said.

Brown could be activated Sunday, but Tracy intimated it might take longer.

“I just want him to be out there and be healthy when he goes out there,” Tracy said. “I don’t know what day that translates to.”

*

Infielder Dave Hansen, on the disabled list because of broken bones on his left hand, received medical clearance to increase his rehabilitation program.

Hansen worked with weights and swung a bat after X-rays Friday showed the bones are healing.

“We’re almost there,” said Hansen, one of the majors’ top pinch-hitters.

Tracy said Hansen will go on a rehabilitation assignment before being activated.

“It’s only fair to him,” Tracy said, “in the fact that he missed an entire spring training.”

*

The Dodgers honored Ross Newhan, The Times’ national baseball columnist, before Tuesday’s game at Dodger Stadium.

Newhan was elected to the writers’ wing of the Hall of Fame and will be inducted at Cooperstown, N.Y., in August.

*

The Dodgers hope to hire former pitcher Orel Hershiser, currently an ESPN analyst, for a position in the minor leagues after his broadcasting career ends, said Derrick Hall, senior vice president.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

DARREN DREIFORT

(12-9, 4.16 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’

CURT SCHILLING

(11-12, 3.81 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

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

* Update--Dreifort, in the first year of a five-year, $55-million contract, is coming off a career-high 192 2/3 innings. The right-hander was 0-1 with a 1.84 earned-run average against the Diamondbacks last season, and 2-3 with a 2.38 ERA in his career. Schilling is 4-2 with a 2.32 ERA in nine appearances at Dodger Stadium. The right-hander pitched eight complete games in 2000, tying teammate Randy Johnson for the league lead.