Gagne Move Goes Against the Grain

The Dodgers took the final step Saturday to buck conventional baseball wisdom and use inexperienced pitcher Eric Gagne as their closer, trading workhorse reliever Matt Herges to the Montreal Expos in a four-player deal.

General Manager Dan Evans cleared the way for Gagne to fill the high-pressure role despite his minimal relief experience, sending Herges--the club’s top candidate beginning spring training to replace retired closer Jeff Shaw--and minor league second baseman Jorge Nunez to Montreal for reliever Guillermo Mota and outfield prospect Wilkin Ruan. The Dodgers said Gagne forced the issue with an outstanding exhibition season in which his fastball has been clocked consistently at 96 mph, and their roster-flexibility problems also spurred the trade.

Gagne has only started this spring, his closing experience is limited to 11 games for the Canadian national team seven years ago and most pitchers don’t jump into the job in the major leagues. But none of that apparently matters to the Dodgers, who believe the 26-year-old Canadian right-hander will be fine after a crash course.

Others aren’t so sure, and even Evans acknowledges the Dodgers are operating outside the box on this one.

“A big part of the reason we [made the trade] is because of the emergence of Gagne,” he said. “He came into spring training with a power arm, he has three [sharp] pitches and our staff believes he can contribute [closing].

“Are we taking a chance? Is this risky? Well, I’m sure some people are going to look at it that way. But we also took a lot of criticism [for other moves] that have worked out. Sometimes, you have to take a chance.”

Evans is definitely gambling on Gagne, who closed for the Canadian national team in 1995. That’s it.

Gagne worked 12 scoreless relief innings with 20 strikeouts for the Canadian national team in 1995, but he wasn’t facing big league batters with games on the line.

“To tell you the truth, I really don’t know how many guys have [gone through] baptism under fire [in the majors],” San Francisco Giant General Manager Brian Sabean said. “I don’t know if you can all of a sudden deem somebody, without much experience, the closer.”

The Dodgers are expected to ease in Gagne, having him share save opportunities and setup duties with right-handers Giovanni Carrara and Paul Quantrill. However, they hope Gagne gets comfortable quickly.

“I’ve been telling everyone don’t count Gagne out of the closer equation because he has the stuff,” Herges said recently. “Without a doubt, his stuff is electric. Who wouldn’t want Eric Gagne closing games? If anyone can do it he can.”

Scouts discussing the trade at a Cactus League game in Scottsdale, Ariz., said Gagne has been one of the best pitchers this spring.

His fastball has had good movement as well as velocity, registering as high as 97 mph in a game, and the changeup is still his best pitch. But Gagne has always thrown hard--command has been the key this spring.

He has not given up an earned run in 15 innings, limiting opponents to four hits, striking out 14 and walking one.

So why not keep Gagne in the rotation, considering his performance and the Dodgers’ potential deficiencies in that area? Because they believe he’s the only long-term solution on the roster.

“I’ve always liked Gagne, and everyone has been talking about how good he’s been throwing,” Montreal General Manager Omar Minaya said. “He definitely gives them some different options that I guess they’re looking at.”

In commenting about the possibility recently, Gagne said he’s ready to go.

“Whatever they need from me, that’s what I want to do,” said Gagne, 11-14 with a 4.61 earned-run average in 48 starts and 10 relief appearances spanning parts of three seasons. “You just have to do your job every time you take the ball. Start or relieve, it doesn’t matter to me what my job is.”

Agent Scott Boras was less enthusiastic, expressing concern about his client’s changing status. Gagne was supposedly competing with Odalis Perez, another of Boras’ clients, for the fifth spot in the rotation, and Boras is confused about the Dodgers’ thinking.

“In spring training all last year and this year, Eric has been a starting pitcher,” he said. “There was never any indication he would be used in that role, and he’s shown this spring that he’s on the road to becoming a solid major league pitcher.

“If Eric’s role is anything other than a starting pitcher, that’s certainly not something that was communicated to Eric and myself.”

The Dodgers plan to use Gagne for an inning in relief in consecutive games this week in an attempt to simulate late-inning situations, and he pitched in middle relief last season, but scouts said closing is a different story. The Dodgers can’t stage what Gagne would face closing games during the season, and talent only helps so much.

“Talent helps, but the experience, the desire, the will to be out there is just as important,” Sabean said. “You have to have a lot of courage and a short memory.

“The hero today doesn’t apply tomorrow. In a lot of ways, their willingness to be in the middle of the fire all the time is as important as their talent.”

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Drawing for an Ace

With the Dodgers’ trade of Matt Herges to Montreal, Eric Gagne remains as the heir apparent to the closer’s role. A look at some of the Dodger bullpen candidates:

Eric Gagne

Plus: Fastball clocked as high as 97 mph

Minus: No saves in professional career

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Paul Quantrill

Plus: 10-year major league veteran

Minus: Never been the principal closer

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Jesse Orosco

Plus: 141 career saves

Minus: Only 11 have been since 1993

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Omar Daal

Plus: Averaged 40 relief appearances from 1993-97

Minus: Only one save during that period

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Giovanni Carrara

Plus: Has experience in AL, NL and Japan

Minus: At age 34, he’s hardly a prospect