DePodesta May Pursue Glaus in Case Beltre Goes

The Dodgers are believed to have expressed interest in Troy Glaus as an option at third base should they fail to retain Adrian Beltre.

Glaus, a former UCLA star, grew up in Carlsbad and lives in Corona. The Angels announced Friday that they would use rookie Dallas McPherson at third base next season rather than offer a contract to Glaus, a free agent and three-time All-Star.

While Beltre remains the Dodgers’ top priority, General Manager Paul DePodesta said he hoped to know by mid-December whether Beltre will return. DePodesta would not comment specifically on Glaus or any other potential acquisition, but said how long Beltre takes to assess his options in free agency could affect how the Dodgers assess theirs.

“I can’t sit here and wait until January and assume everything will be OK and we’ll end up with our guy,” DePodesta said Monday. “I don’t think things will happen by Nov. 15, either.

“But part of my job is to create options for our club -- not as leverage points, but as very real options. I’m not Pollyannish enough to think we’ll get every player we want. I have to make sure we’re protected.”

Beltre, 25, hit .334 with 48 home runs, more than double his previous career high and one every 12.5 at-bats. Glaus, 28, hit 47 homers in 2000 and 41 in 2001. In an injury-shortened 2004 season, he hit .251 with 18 homers, one every 11.5 at-bats.

The only other high-quality third basemen available in free agency are Corey Koskie of the Minnesota Twins and Vinny Castilla of the Colorado Rockies.

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Odalis Perez filed for free agency, leaving the Dodgers with four starting pitchers under contract for next season -- Jeff Weaver, Brad Penny, Kazuhisa Ishii and Edwin Jackson.

DePodesta said he had yet to make an offer to Perez but would like to retain him. The Dodgers also will explore bringing back Jose Lima, another free agent.

Penny is coming off a season-ending injury to a nerve in his pitching arm, but DePodesta said the Dodger medical staff is “pretty confident the nerve won’t be an issue” come spring training.

Ishii tied Weaver with a team-high 13 victories but was twice banished to the bullpen. Jackson, handed a spot in the rotation last winter, lost it in spring training and will be handed nothing this winter.

“I like young players to push the door down and force us to put them on the club,” DePodesta said.

DePodesta said he would try to sign more than one starter this winter.

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Dodger first baseman-outfielder Shawn Green will earn $16 million next season, in the final year of his contract.

DePodesta said he would listen to trade offers but denied rumors he is actively trying to dump the contract.