Karros Is Too Much of a Luxury

The Dodgers’ efforts to trade first baseman Eric Karros and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek appeared to have paid off Tuesday as the club reached a tentative agreement with the Chicago Cubs to reacquire catcher Todd Hundley in a multiplayer deal, creating payroll and roster flexibility the Dodgers could use to pursue free agents Jeff Kent or Cliff Floyd.

The Dodgers and Cubs had 72 hours to finalize the trade that baseball sources said was temporarily delayed while agent Seth Levinson, who represents Hundley and Grudzielanek, addressed contractual issues with the clubs. The Dodgers also would receive another major leaguer and send cash to the Cubs as part of the transaction that could be completed as early as today, said a source involved in negotiations.

“It’s our policy to never comment regarding discussions we’re having with any club, and we have had discussions with every club,” General Manager Dan Evans said.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve the team and that’s all I’ll say.”

Karros, a Dodger his entire professional career, was disturbed by news of the impending trade, instructing agent Jeff Moorad to speak on his behalf.

“It was Eric’s hope and his desire, and still is his hope in the unlikely event this trade falls through, that he would be able to finish his career as an L.A. Dodger,” Moorad said of the 1992 National League rookie of the year. “If this trade becomes a reality as we expect, he would certainly have a sense of disappointment.”

Dodger officials have bemoaned their inability to make moves because of the roster and payroll mistakes of the former regime. The Dodgers did not expect to be a factor in this winter’s free-agent market because they had $95 million committed to 12 players, not including those eligible for arbitration, and were concerned about exceeding next season’s luxury-tax threshold of $117 million.

Evans aggressively pursued deals to move Karros, rehabilitating from arthroscopic shoulder surgery and coming off consecutive poor seasons, and Grudzielanek because their salaries have contributed to the Dodgers’ payroll constraints. The Dodgers also have been dissatisfied with the production of the outspoken veterans, who frequently clashed with Manager Jim Tracy while questioning how he handled the club last season, team sources said.

With Karros and Grudzielanek gone, Evans and his staff plan to reinvest in the team the $15 million guaranteed to those players under the final years of their contracts, a Dodger official said. The Dodgers want to bolster the batting order, hoping to provide a right-handed counterpart for left-handed slugger Shawn Green, and Kent could fill their need.

Evans declined comment on whether the club is pursuing Kent -- the 2000 NL most valuable player -- but a Dodger official acknowledged that the club plans to explore many options at first with the money available once the deal is finalized. Although Kent, who helped the San Francisco Giants win the 2002 pennant, has primarily played second throughout his career, he can play first.

The left-handed-batting Floyd, who played for Tracy in the Montreal Expos’ farm system, also is on the Dodgers’ list. Whether the Dodgers pursue those avenues or go in another direction, trading Karros and Grudzielanek is the key.

Karros, 35, is owed $8 million in 2003. His contract includes a 2004 option for $9 million, or a $1-million buyout, which would vest if he reaches 500 plate appearances next season. Grudzielanek, 32, has a $5.5-million salary in the last guaranteed year of his deal. A club option for $6 million in 2004 could be bought out for $500,000.

Hundley, 33, who played for the Dodgers from 1999-2000, has a salary of $6 million next season and $6.5 million in 2004.

In 573 plate appearances last season, Karros batted .271 with a career-low 13 home runs and 73 runs batted. In 2001, he had a career-worst .235 average in 487 plate appearances while playing with a torn lower-back muscle.

The Cubs are excited about prospect Hee Seop Choi, 23, expected to relegate Karros to a backup role for the first time in his 12-year career.

As a player with at least 10 years in the major leagues and five with one team, Karros could reject a trade and block the deal. However, Karros promised Chairman Bob Daly he wouldn’t exercise that right while negotiating a three-year, $24-million contract extension in 2000.

“I’ll be frank about this: There was a point during the day when we talked about the possibility of shifting gears on that issue,” Moorad said. “In the end, Eric chose to stand by the commitment and honor his word to Bob Daly.”

Grudzielanek failed to fulfill the Dodgers’ expectations after signing a four-year, $18-million contract in 2000. He batted a team-high .326 in 1999 in establishing a franchise record for shortstops but has batted no higher than .279 the last three seasons since being moved to second.

If Grudzielanek remains with the Cubs, he could be behind Bobby Hill, who struggled as a rookie last season but finished strong. The Dodgers have many options at second, including Alex Cora and prospect Joe Thurston.

To say the least, the return of Hundley to the Dodgers was unexpected. The Cubs were as eager to get rid of Hundley as the Dodgers were to trade Karros and Grudzielanek. Hundley’s first stint with the Dodgers was marked by injuries and ineffectiveness and the club did not offer him arbitration, receiving no draft-pick compensation for the player they acquired from the New York Mets in 1998 for Gold Glove catcher Charles Johnson and outfielder Roger Cedeno.

Hundley didn’t enjoy his first tour of Los Angeles.

“It’s the most laid-back town I’ve ever played in, and that kind of drags you down, forces you to adjust,” he said in February 2001. “The Dodgers draw big crowds, but most come in the third inning and leave in the sixth and really don’t care as long as they’re seen. The die-hards are out in the bleachers or up in the top deck.”

Hundley struggled after signing a four-year, $23.5-million contract with the Cubs, hitting only 28 homers with 66 RBIs the last two seasons. The Cubs traded for two catchers this off-season after the switch-hitter batted .211 with 16 home runs and 35 RBIs in 2002. Hundley is expected to be the No. 2 catcher behind Paul Lo Duca and occasionally play first.

*

The Dodgers will play the Mets in Mexico City in two spring training games next year.

The teams will meet March 15 and 16, the commissioner’s office announced.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

On the Move

TO THE DODGERS

TODD HUNDLEY

*--* 2002 Avg. Season G 92 93 AB 266 287 R 32 38 H 56 67 2B 8 13 HR 16 15 RBI 35 45 Avg 211 235

*--*

*

TO THE CUBS

MARK GRUDZIELANEK

*--* 2002 Avg. Season G 150 137 AB 536 543 R 56 72 H 145 153 2B 23 28 HR 9 7 RBI 50 48 Avg 271 282

*--*

ERIC KARROS

*--* 2002 Avg. Season G 142 146 AB 524 545 R 52 68 H 142 146 2B 26 27 HR 13 25 RBI 73 89 Avg 271 268

*--*