Dodgers, Angels Not Shopping

The Dodgers and Angels are not expected to be factors in this winter’s free-agent market, which could be affected by labor negotiations and contraction.

Players, who began filing for free agency Monday, are only permitted to negotiate with teams they played for this season until Nov. 20. Other clubs can contact players’ representatives to express interest during the 15-day window after the World Series.

This free-agent class features elite everyday players, but few top-tier pitchers.

Heading the class are outfielders Barry Bonds, Juan Gonzalez, Moises Alou and Johnny Damon; first basemen Jason Giambi, Jim Thome and Tino Martinez; and pitchers Chan Ho Park, John Smoltz, Jamie Moyer, Aaron Sele, Jason Schmidt, Terry Adams and Jason Isringhausen.

With the basic agreement set to expire Wednesday (it could be extended for another year), there has been speculation of a signing freeze while a new labor package is negotiated.

However, two National League general managers said Monday that the commissioner’s office had not issued revised plans for the early free-agent period.

Contraction, teams being bought out and dissolved, has cast another shadow over the hot-stove league.

Owners are discussing a plan that would eliminate the Minnesota Twins and Montreal Expos, and the dispersal of players in those organizations would impact the free-agent market and player movement.

A vote on the matter could occur as early as today in the major league meetings at Chicago.

The Dodgers, who have holes in many areas, have been among the most aggressive organizations in free agency under Fox, but things apparently are changing under rookie General Manager Dan Evans.

The cost-conscious Evans is not expected to re-sign Park or Adams, or pursue other high-profile free agents.

“I haven’t talked to [agent] Scott [Boras] about Chan Ho or his free agency yet, and I haven’t spoken with [Adams’ agent] yet,” Evans said recently. “The key for us is we just need to assemble what all of our alternatives are, what all of our options are, before we can go about talking about where we are on Chan Ho and Adams.

“A decision on Chan Ho and Adams hasn’t been made yet. And those decisions would have to fit into our off-season goals.”

Similarly, the Angels, who finished 41 games behind the Seattle Mariners in the American League West, have areas of major concern as well.

But under the Walt Disney Co., the club has shied away from the free-agent market since signing first baseman Mo Vaughn to a six-year, $80-million contract in November 1998.

Now, the Angels might be sold under one contraction scenario.