Dodgers to Take Action Next Week

The Dodgers plan to get off the sideline and into the free-agent game next week, meeting with agents of the top players on their list and preparing to make contract offers, baseball sources said Wednesday.

General Manager Dan Evans did not aggressively pursue starters Chan Ho Park, who spent his first six-plus seasons with the Dodgers, and Terry Adams while the club had exclusive negotiating rights that ended Monday. Evans is expected to meet with agent Scott Boras, who represents Park, next week and have discussions with Alan and Randy Hendricks, Adams’ co-agents.

Evans has declined to discuss the club’s free-agent strategy. However, the Dodgers are focusing on closer Jason Isringhausen, set-up man Dave Weathers and starter James Baldwin, whom Evans acquired from the Chicago White Sox in July.

The Dodgers have holes in key areas in the bullpen, and sources said team officials also are concerned about the rotation.

Kevin Brown, who turns 37 in spring training, and Andy Ashby, 34, are coming off season-ending surgery. Darren Dreifort might sit out the 2002 season after having undergone reconstructive elbow surgery for the second time since 1995.

Omar Daal, acquired in a trade from Philadelphia, finished at the back end of the Phillie rotation last season. Luke Prokopec might be traded to acquire infield or bullpen help, and the talented Eric Gagne is still learning on the job.

Dodger officials acknowledge Park is the top pitcher in the class, but they’re reluctant to re-sign the right-hander because of payroll concerns.

Based on how baseball calculates payroll, the Dodgers have almost $95 million committed to 16 players under contract next season. In comparison, the club’s payroll for the 2000 season was under $96 million.

Executives from other teams said Evans is trying to trade first baseman Eric Karros, who would have to agree to waive his no-trade clause, and center fielder Tom Goodwin to create payroll flexibility. Karros has a salary of $7 million in 2002 and the Dodgers owe Goodwin almost $3.5 million, so they will probably return.

The Dodgers do not want to have the game’s highest payroll next season, so it appears Boras would have to work with them for Park to return. The Texas Rangers on Tuesday offered Park a multiyear contract.

The Dodgers’ plans for Adams are unclear.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies are among the clubs interested in Adams, sources said.

The right-hander has had success starting and relieving.

“Clubs are predominantly looking at him as a starter,” said Randy Hendricks, who declined to identify the teams he has spoken with about Adams. “People are looking at his age and what he did for the Dodgers; there has been a lot of interest.”