Silence Speaks Loudly to Park

There are many signs that the Dodgers have decided not to bring back free-agent pitcher Chan Ho Park, and here’s the latest: General Manager Dan Evans did not speak with agent Scott Boras while the club had exclusive negotiating rights that expire today.

Boras said Sunday that Evans had not returned a phone message he left shortly after the World Series to discuss whether the Dodgers are interested in Park and Boras’ other clients. Open bidding begins Tuesday, ending a 15-day period in which teams could negotiate only with their own free agents. Every club could express interest to players’ representatives.

Boras said he has spoken with many clubs expected to pursue Park, and he’s confused by the Dodgers’ silence.

“I am surprised,” he said. “I’ve talked to all the major league teams about players in general, except for the Dodgers. I placed a call to every general manager, including Dan, but I haven’t heard from the Dodger general manager.

“It’s not personal for me. These clubs make business decisions, and I understand that. But when you call someone ... I don’t know. I don’t know what the vision is with the Dodgers, because I haven’t had a chance to talk to Danny.”

Evans declined The Times’ request for an interview, and through Derrick Hall, senior vice president, said he would not comment.

The Dodgers also are not expected to sign free agent Terry Adams, who was the team’s most effective starter behind Park last season.

Adams and Darren Dreifort have similar career statistics, and the Dodgers gave Dreifort a five-year, $55-million contract after the 2000 season.

James Baldwin is still on the club’s radar screen. One of Baldwin’s agents said he was optimistic about the right-hander returning after speaking with Evans.

Under Chairman Bob Daly last season, the Dodgers were among baseball’s most aggressive teams in retaining free agents they wanted to keep. Daly initiated meetings early in the process that led to the club re-signing pitchers Dreifort and Mike Fetters and catcher Chad Kreuter.

Although Evans said he has not made a decision about Park, considered the top pitcher in the class, sources said the club does not plan to re-sign the right-hander. The Dodgers must offer arbitration by Dec. 7 to receive draft picks as compensation if Park signs with another club.

Park, paid $10 million last season, probably won’t join the $20-million-a-year club after a mediocre second half, but still might command a salary of more than $14 million.

Team decision-makers have decided that’s too much for a player who they said was disappointing down the stretch in the National League West race.

Park ranked among the major leagues’ leaders in most categories in 2001, going 15-11 with a 3.50 earned-run average and 218 strikeouts in 234 innings. However, he was 7-6 with a 4.40 ERA after the All-Star break, contributing to the club’s third-place finish despite baseball’s second-highest payroll.

But Boras points out that Park had only one fewer quality start than Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who led the majors with 27. Johnson had the most quality starts in baseball the last two seasons at 52. Park is No. 2 on the list with 49.

Johnson limited opponents to a .214 batting average the last two seasons.

Park was second at .215. And in six starts against the three NL division champions last season, Park was 4-0 with a 1.77 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 452/3 innings.

“If Chan Ho had run support, he would have more than likely been a 20-game winner,” Boras said.

“As a matter of fact, [Manager] Jim Tracy noted that in a quote late in the season when talking about Chan Ho. Chan Ho does everything that you can ask a pitcher to do.

“Is he a guy like Randy Johnson or Curt Schilling? Well, Chan Ho just finished his 27-year-old season. There’s obviously more that he can do to improve. But he’s at a level that you don’t normally get from someone of his age. When Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling were 27 ... Chan Ho is far ahead of them in performance.”

Boras declined to identify the teams with which he has spoken about Park, but the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles are expected to make offers.

“The great thing about baseball is that it’s an opinion business,” Boras said.

“There are a lot of people in this game who have very firm opinions about Chan Ho.”

Preparing for life without Park, Evans acquired Omar Daal from the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies had planned to decline Daal’s $5-million option until the Dodgers pursued the left-hander.

And Evans still hopes to sign Baldwin, whom he acquired from the Chicago White Sox in July. Rex Gary, one of the pitcher’s co-agents, said Baldwin enjoyed his L.A. experience and wants to return.

Gary said his talks with Evans have been encouraging, but declined to discuss specifics. Baldwin is believed to be seeking a three-year deal in the $24-million range.

“James makes a lot of sense for us,” Evans said in an interview during the World Series. “He’s a pretty good pitcher. He’s a guy who brings a lot of experience and a lot of innings. I thought he brought a lot of character to our clubhouse. He did a nice job for us, and his record was very deceptive.”

Baldwin was 3-6 with a 4.20 ERA in 12 starts for the Dodgers. The right-hander was winless in five starts in September, going 0-4 with a 5.23 ERA. He gave up 40 hits in 31 innings and opponents batted .320 against him.