A SAD GOODBYE TO A GREAT GUY.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

And so we bid farewell to Shawn Green. Without ceremony, without fanfare, and, sadly, with barely a tip of the cap.

Green gave the Dodgers five years, three very good ones and two absolutely superb ones.

In that time, he seemed admired by Dodger fans, but never completely embraced. Respected, but never truly treasured.

Green is as likable a man as you could ever hope to meet. Pleasant as the morning sun.

But little about him fits that modern image of superstar. He has no edge. There is no outlandish personality, no oversized ego, no outpouring of competitive fire.

To those who viewed him as soft or simply beneath the standard of a $15 million-per-year player - clearly the organization and seemingly most Dodgers followers - his exit is hardly disturbing.

There has been no outcry over his long-rumored, painfully delayed trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Precious few outraged letters to sports sections. Little in the way of irate callers to sports talk shows.

He was dumped in a salary move, which, in the end, did not save any salary. Dealt for four minor leaguers. The catcher, Dioner Navarro, is supposed to be a real prospect, although the minors are forever littered with prospects who never amount to anything at the major-league level.

``It was obviously time to move on,'' Green said. ``There's no secret about that.''

It was no secret Green no longer fit in the Dodgers' plans. For a guy general manager Paul DePodesta insisted he wasn't trying to trade, Green's name came up in every trade rumor from Sammy Sosa to Kobe Bryant.

To finally be dumped for a bag full of unproven minor-leaguers is an insult to Green and what he gave the Dodgers. It's not like he was a cancer in the clubhouse or a black hole in the lineup.

Green, 32, averaged more than 32 home runs and 100 RBI in his five seasons in Los Angeles. His 2001-02 seasons may have been the best back- to-back offensive years in Dodgers history (49 and 42 home runs, 125 and 114 RBI).

He was raised in Southern California and hoped to finish his career as a Dodger. He consistently gave back to the community. Was the only player to attend the team's annual Christmas party for children last month at Dodger Stadium.

But he wasn't a DePodesta guy, which, in the end, was likely his greatest failing.

``I'm not taking personally anything that's happened,'' Green said. ``Everyone has a right to run the organization the way they want, and I respect that.''

Some point to Green's falling production. He played through a bad shoulder in 2003 and ended the season with 19 home runs and 85 RBI. He had offseason shoulder surgery, willingly switched from right field to first base when asked, started slowly last season, then finished with 28 homers and 86 RBI.

``I feel great,'' Green said. ``As the season went on last year I got stronger. It just took me a little while to work through it.''

That's not uncommon for someone coming off shoulder surgery. They typically make another leap up in the second year after surgery.

If he does - and look for him to return to 30-100 status - it will be for the Diamondbacks, a team in the Dodgers' division.

The trade supposedly allows the Dodgers to sign versatile pitcher Derek Lowe to a four-year, $36 million contract, which is curious in its own right.

Four years for 31-year-old Lowe, who was truly spectacular in the postseason but struggled so miserably in the regular season (5.42 ERA) that he lost his spot in the rotation?

And scheduled to take Green's spot at first base is Hee-Seop Choi, a three-year disappointment?

Knowing the team needed to create payroll room this season, particularly in an effort to re-sign Adrian Beltre, Green offered to take less money in the coming season for a contract extension.

His agent, Greg Genske, said the offer, made after last season, was close to the three-year, $30 million deal he signed with the Diamondbacks. Genske said after initially being receptive, the Dodgers made it clear they were more interested in trading Green.

In his restructured deal with Arizona, Green will earn $10.5 million this season. The Dodgers sent $10 million to Arizona in the trade, so where exactly is this great savings?

DePodesta is intent on his makeover of the division champions, and quality player, quality guy, be damned.

``I understand a new ownership, a new regime, and they're entitled to make the decisions they want to make in how they run their business,'' Green said. ``It's not my position to judge.

``I will say the way the season ended last year was a big thrill for everyone. As players, a lot of us were hoping last year would be a building spot, but, obviously, the organization decided to go another way.''

The soft-spoken Green had a no-trade clause in his contract and could have nixed the entire deal. You have to think if he'd kept the $16 million on his original contract for next season, had a good year, then became a free agent, he might have earned more over the three-year period than just the additional $14 million he'll receive the next two seasons.

Only the repeated efforts to trade Green had made the Dodgers' position clear. And why play for someone who no longer wants you? Particularly when Arizona clearly did.

``It's more beneficial as a player to be in a place that's excited to have you in the lineup and excited to have you in the ballclub,'' he said. ``That's the situation I'm in.''

They never wore T-shirts at Dodger Stadium with his image, like those depicting reliever Eric Gagne. He never electrified the stadium when he came to bat, like Beltre. He wasn't beloved like Sandy Koufax.

They never appreciated him like they should have. But they'll miss his sweet swing. And his class act.