Closer, Shortstop High on L.A. List

Jason Isringhausen has rejected a multiyear contract offer from the Oakland Athletics, providing an opportunity for the Dodgers to sign the free-agent closer, baseball sources said Tuesday.

Isringhausen declined the Athletics’ four-year, $24-million offer in part because of the Dodgers’ interest in him.

He is believed to be seeking a five-year package that averages more than $7 million.

Agent Danny Horwits declined to discuss his negotiations with Oakland and what it would take for the Dodgers to acquire Isringhausen, considered one of the top relievers in the class. Horwits acknowledged, however, his client is intrigued by the possibility of joining the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have another hole in the bullpen after buying out the final season of all-star closer Jeff Shaw’s contract, and Isringhausen might be the best available option in a pitching-thin market.

The six-year veteran was 4-3 with a 2.65 earned-run average and 34 saves in 65 appearances for Oakland in 2001. Isringhausen, who had a salary of $3.3 million, had 33 saves for the Athletics in 2000--his first season as a full-time closer.

Baseball officials doubt that the Dodgers could acquire an all-star caliber closer in a trade. Other clubs are simply not interested in most of the available players on their 25-man roster, and they still have severe prospect limitations.

Royce Clayton of the Chicago White Sox is on the list of shortstops the Dodgers are considering to bolster their infield.

Executives from other teams said General Manager Dan Evans has focused on trying to acquire Neifi Perez of the Kansas City Royals. Clayton might be a better fit for the Dodgers, however, because of his contract situation.

Perez had a salary of $3.55 million and is eligible for arbitration. The switch-hitter might receive a significant raise despite batting only .241 with one home run and 12 runs batted in 49 games after being traded from Colorado to Kansas City. He committed 15 errors combined and had a .977 fielding percentage.

Although Perez has a .279 career batting average, scouts have concerns about him offensively because he played most of his first four-plus seasons at Coors Field. Perez has a. 313 batting average and .337 on-base percentage at home, and only a .243 batting average and .283 on-base percentage on the road.

Clayton has one more season left on his contract at $4 million. He batted .263 with nine homers and 60 RBIs for the White Sox in 2001, and has a .258 career average. The smooth fielder committed only seven errors and had a .988 fielding percentage.

The Dodgers are also looking for bullpen depth.

Manager Jim Tracy acknowledged that he used setup man Matt Herges too much last season.

Tracy was forced to lean on the second-year pitcher even after Evans acquired Mike Trombley, who was 0-4 with a 6.56 ERA in 19 games. Trombley, who had a 9.53 ERA in September, is owed $2 million next season.

Evans had hoped to acquire Dave Weathers from the Milwaukee Brewers at the trading deadline, but the Chicago Cubs offered a better package of prospects. Weathers is high on the Dodgers’ free-agent list, but he could be expensive at more than $3 million per season.