GM: No Offer for Johnson

While emerging Wednesday as a finalist for Arizona center fielder Steve Finley, the Dodgers denied a report they also had been close to acquiring Randy Johnson from the Diamondbacks.

Finley, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner, informed Arizona management he would exercise his right -- as a player with at least 10 years in the major leagues and five with one team -- to block potential trades except to the Dodgers or San Diego before Saturday’s deadline, National League executives said.

Finley, 39, recently indicated he would also have approved a trade to San Francisco, but it now appears to be a two-team race for the two-time All-Star, who is batting .278 with 23 home runs and 48 runs batted in.

Meanwhile, General Manager Paul DePodesta addressed an ESPN report that the Dodgers had offered setup man Guillermo Mota, outfielder Jayson Werth and top pitching prospects Chad Billingsley and Chuck Tiffany for Johnson, who supposedly refused to waive his no-trade clause to join the Dodgers.

Speaking carefully to avoid tampering rules, DePodesta reiterated he has had talks with Arizona General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. “about other things, and I’ve tried to stay informed about [the Johnson] situation,” but said there was no firm offer for Johnson from the Dodgers’ standpoint.

“We certainly have never had a deal in principle, and we never really had a deal in concept,” he said. “We were not at the stage of giving each other hard proposals.

“I have no idea if Randy Johnson has turned down any kind of deal. I can say this: I have no deal with Arizona, so there’s no deal to turn down.”

Other officials confirmed that the Dodgers had not focused on acquiring Johnson because of Arizona’s high asking price for the five-time Cy Young Award winner and co-MVP of the 2001 World Series.

The Diamondbacks would want Mota and Werth included in a deal for Johnson, as well as catcher Paul Lo Duca, a Dodger official said.

“I don’t know that the door has ever been open,” DePodesta said. “I know a lot has been written, especially in the last 24 hours, but I’ve never been under the impression that Randy Johnson is available to the Dodgers.”

Two NL general managers said it appeared doubtful that Johnson would be traded during the season because the New York Yankees, the top team on Johnson’s wish list, have not offered enough.

With the clock still ticking toward the deadline, the Dodgers hoping to bolster the batting order and rotation and few “difference-makers” available, DePodesta said he has tried to engineer three- and four-team deals.

One potential deal would bring Florida starter Brad Penny to the Dodgers.

The Marlins might trade Penny because he could earn as much as $8 million in arbitration next season. Florida has made many attempts to acquire Lo Duca.

“There just aren’t that many players out there who are available,” DePodesta said. “For the most part we have to involve other teams.”

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Reliever Paul Shuey underwent season-ending hip surgery in Pittsburgh.

The right-hander, who has a salary of $3.25 million in the final year of his contract, hopes to return in 2006. He didn’t pitch at all in the majors this season.

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With the Dodgers off Monday, Manager Jim Tracy said he probably would not skip a starter, giving the rotation an extra day’s rest.... Hideo Nomo threw 51 pitches in a bullpen session. Nomo is scheduled for another session Friday.