Wallace Facing Decisions

Former general manager Kevin Malone is gone but not forgotten because of the mess he left behind.

Baseball executives said Sunday the Dodgers face long-term roster and payroll problems that might take the next general manager years to solve.

But there also are front-burner issues that Dave Wallace, Malone’s interim replacement, must address immediately.

“The plate is as full as I thought it would be,” said Wallace between closed-door sessions with club decision-makers.

“I don’t know that you ever clean off the plate because it’s a constant maintenance program. You have to communicate and be on top of things on a daily basis, whatever you might be focused on that day.”

The following items top Wallace’s daily to-do list:

1.) Decide whether to release pitcher Carlos Perez.

The left-hander is 1-1 with a 5.40 earned-run average in his rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Las Vegas.

Perez can become a free agent if he is not on the 25-man roster by May 5, and the club would owe him the remainder of his $7.5 million salary this season.

Malone kept Perez to this point because he gave him a three-year, $15.6-million contract, and Chairman Bob Daly did not overrule Malone, though he might have considered it because of the pitcher’s embarrassing off-field behavior.

But Wallace, considered the game’s best pitching coach, is only concerned about results.

“The last time out, Carlos threw six pretty good innings,” Wallace said. “Before that he was struggling, and with the physical situation . . . you just don’t know.

“He probably has two more starts [at Las Vegas]. It’s something I’ll think about.”

2.) Decide whether to re-sign reliever Jesse Orosco.

The Dodgers released Orosco, baseball’s all-time appearance leader, March 30 after the left-hander was 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA in spring training.

Orosco and his agent insist Malone assured them he would be on the opening-day roster unless he had elbow problems, and Orosco said he pitched pain-free.

The 21-year veteran is willing to pitch at Las Vegas, and the Dodgers are considering offering Orosco a minor-league contract because they do not have a situational left-hander in the bullpen.

Orosco recently rejected an offer from the Montreal Expos because he wants to finish his career with the Dodgers, and he changed his mind about retiring after Malone was forced to resign.

“You always talk about things,” Wallace said of Orosco’s situation. “But nothing is beyond the talking stages.”

3.) Decide whether to keep rookie pitcher Jose Nunez on the 25-man roster.

The Dodgers drafted Nunez, 22, from the New York Mets in the Rule 5 draft because they lack pitching depth in the minors.

The left-hander’s fastball has been clocked in the low 90s, his curveball is sharp and his command impressive.

But scouts said Nunez, in low Class A last season, is not ready to pitch in a bullpen rotation for a contending club.

Nunez (0-1) gave up home runs in his first three outings, has a 9.00 ERA and has appeared twice in the last 13 games.

The Dodgers effectively have a 10-man bullpen because they won’t use Nunez in most situations, limiting Manager Jim Tracy’s options, but they must keep him on the roster or offer him back to the Mets for $25,000.

“Trace is going to use him,” Wallace said. “He certainly, at times, has shown what type of stuff he has and what type of makeup he has.

“We’re still at the point where we’re giving him an opportunity. We’ll see.”

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Third baseman Adrian Beltre said his rehabilitation is going well, though he would not speculate on his return.

“It’s going right on schedule, whatever the schedule is,” said Beltre, who underwent abdominal surgery twice since January.

“Everything is going fine and I don’t expect to have any setbacks. I’m up to 198 [pounds] after I was like at 184. It’s good.”

Physical therapist Pat Screnar said Beltre has “done very well to this point” in a program that includes weight lifting, running, fielding, batting and throwing practice.

Beltre is expected to return in mid-May.

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Coach Manny Mota returned to Dodger Stadium after having undergone an appendectomy April 16 at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood.

Mota, who visited with Tracy, coaches and players, is expected to resume his duties this week.