Perez Agrees, Gagne Gap Is $3 Million

The Dodgers avoided arbitration with pitcher Odalis Perez Tuesday, agreeing to terms with the left-hander on a one-year, $5-million contract, but they’ll have to close a considerable gap if they are to avoid arbitration with All-Star closer Eric Gagne.

Gagne and the Dodgers exchanged figures to start the arbitration process Tuesday, with the Cy Young Award-winning reliever seeking a salary of $8 million and the team countering with $5 million. Gagne made $550,000 last season, when his contract was unilaterally renewed by the team during spring training.

Gagne’s agent, Scott Boras, and the Dodgers will spend the next week or two trying to find some middle ground on a 2004 salary, but if the sides can’t come to terms, an independent arbitrator will determine during a February hearing which of the two figures Gagne deserves.

Gagne, 27, went 2-3 with a 1.20 earned-run average and was 55 for 55 in save opportunities. The right-hander struck out 137 and walked only 20 in 82 1/3 innings, allowing only 37 hits.

“When numbers are filed, it’s just another point in the arbitration process,” Dodger General Manager Dan Evans said. “The important thing is Eric will be a member of the Dodgers this year. We’ll continue to talk [with Boras]. Ultimately, our goal is to agree on a deal.”

Gagne’s $8-million filing represents the second-highest salary sought by a player in his first year of arbitration, behind the $10.5 million St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols filed for Tuesday. The Cardinals countered with $7 million.

The Dodgers exchanged salary figures with two other players Tuesday, reliever Guillermo Mota and utility player Jolbert Cabrera. Mota asked for $1.75 million, and the team countered with $1.2 million. Cabrera asked for $1.35 million, and the team countered with $850,000.

Perez’s deal, which represents a $1.6-million raise over his $3.4-million salary in 2003, was finalized just before the sides were set to exchange arbitration figures.

Perez, 25, went 12-12 with a 4.52 ERA in 30 starts, striking out 141 and walking 46 in 185 1/3 innings.

Perez, acquired from Atlanta in the Gary Sheffield trade in January 2002, went 15-10 with a 3.00 ERA in 32 starts in 2002 but has been the subject of several trade rumors this winter.

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Evans and several other Dodger executives are scheduled to attend a ground-breaking ceremony for the newest Dodger Dream Field and improvement project today at 3 p.m. at the Ardmore Recreation Center in Seoul International Park, 3250 San Marino St., Los Angeles.