Agent: Boone Would Be ‘Good Fit’

The agent for Aaron Boone said Saturday the Dodgers would be a “good fit” for the free-agent infielder.

General Manager Paul DePodesta and agent Adam Katz have talked about Boone, whom the New York Yankees released after he injured his left knee playing basketball Jan. 16, and team sources said DePodesta is strongly considering signing Boone to further fortify an improved batting order.

Although Katz declined to discuss his conversations with DePodesta, he acknowledged mutual interest.

“I don’t think you have to be a baseball insider to know that Aaron would be a good fit with the Dodgers,” Katz said. “But there are other teams interested in Aaron, and Aaron has criteria that’s important to him.

“We’ve had preliminary discussions with many clubs, and that’s where we’re at right now. But the Dodgers are definitely an interesting possibility.”

Boone hopes to return from rehabilitation in August. It is believed he would be willing to play second base for the remainder of the season if he signed with the Dodgers, but would want to return to third base next season.

That might be a perfect scenario for the Dodgers, because third baseman Adrian Beltre, off to the best start of his career, could become a free agent after the season.

“Probably sometime in the middle of the season, we’ll settle into a list of six to eight teams,” Katz said. “Then Aaron will make a decision.”

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The only surprise about Wilson Alvarez’s first start this season was how long it took to occur. The left-hander didn’t disappoint, pitching seven impressive innings Friday and combining with reliever Guillermo Mota on a one-hitter in a 4-0 victory over Pittsburgh at PNC Park.

The Pirates had only one baserunner, Chris Stynes, who led off the sixth inning with an infield single. Alvarez had been scheduled to make two starts in the fifth spot in the rotation (against Pittsburgh and this Friday against Cincinnati), but Manager Jim Tracy declined to publicly commit a permanent rotation position to him. Even after Alvarez’s 85-pitch, 57-strike masterpiece, Tracy did not name him as a full-time starter.

Should Alvarez have been starting all along?

“I can’t really say anything about it,” Alvarez said. “They make the choices, not me, I’m here to just pitch. Whatever they want me to do here, I’ll do it.

“If they want me in the bullpen, I’ll do it, because I just want to win. I got a couple of years left in my arm. I would like to win before I go home.”

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Second baseman Joe Thurston joined the Dodgers from triple-A Las Vegas after left fielder and leadoff batter Dave Roberts (strained right hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list.