Evans Will Hold Off on Job Search

The Dodgers moved Wednesday to end speculation about Dan Evans, saying the interim assistant general manager will not pursue other jobs during the season.

Evans, in his first month with the Dodgers, is reportedly a leading candidate to become the Pittsburgh Pirate general manager and has been mentioned in connection with many possible openings.

However, the Dodgers said Evans, under contract until the season ends, committed to fulfilling his agreement when he was hired, and he would not be granted permission to interview elsewhere.

“When Dan agreed to come here for the remainder of the year, that was a commitment he made solely with us,” said Derrick Hall, senior vice president. “We mutually agreed that he should not seek other opportunities for the remainder of this season.”

Hall said that Evans, a Chicago White Sox executive for 19 years, has made a smooth transition, working well with Chairman Bob Daly and interim General Manager Dave Wallace.

Evans has a strong background in transaction rules and contract negotiations--areas of weakness for the Dodgers--and is considered an effective administrator.

Although he hopes to become the next Dodger general manager, Evans acknowledges there are no guarantees.

“I don’t know what the future holds and I can’t control that,” Evans said. “What I can control is my level of commitment over the next 3 1/2 months.”

Kevin Brown, recovering faster than expected from an irritated nerve in his neck, might be activated Tuesday to start against the San Francisco Giants at Pacific Bell Park.

The Dodgers feared that Brown might be sidelined until after the All-Star break, but the right-hander had good bullpen sessions Tuesday and Wednesday.

Another pain-free performance Friday would be the final step before Brown rejoins the struggling club.

“He’s progressing,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “If he’s OK with the workload that we’re going to give him on Friday, we’ll look at the situation and [determine] the direction that we want to take.”

An MRI exam revealed that second baseman Mark Grudzielanek has a torn ligament on the outside of his sprained left ankle, Tracy said.

“It’s not something in need of surgery or anything like that,” Tracy said. “It’s not inhibiting him from continuing his work in order to be activated.

“He is on target. Is he on target [to be activated Wednesday]? We’ll have to wait and see.”

Despite the tear, Grudzielanek said his ankle feels better.

“I probably could have played after three or four days if I pushed it, but we needed to get somebody up here [because of] all the injuries,” Grudzielanek said. “That’s what was best for the team, so I’ll just keep doing my exercises and get ready to come back.”

Team physician Frank Jobe said Grudzielanek’s ankle will have to be heavily taped when he returns.

Pitching coach Jim Colborn said he’s not worried about struggling starter Darren Dreifort.

“I know he gave up 10 hits [in Tuesday’s 9-2 loss to Arizona], but as strange as it sounds, I thought he threw pretty well,” said Colborn of Dreifort, who has a 9.88 earned-run average in his last three starts.

“Sometimes in baseball that happens. If it happens a whole bunch, then you start looking for answers.

“I’d prefer to just stay the course. That kind of performance, every five days, is going to be successful.”

Gary Sheffield, a contributor to the Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities program, will host the R.B.I. Baseball Olympics on Saturday at Los Angeles Southwest College.

Sheffield will be joined by Dodger second baseman Hiram Bocachica and pitcher Giovanni Carrara.