AMERICAN LEAGUE: AROUND THE HORN : ORIOLES TRY TO EMPTY NEST.

Byline: - Matt McHale

The Baltimore Orioles are the American League Dodgers, an $84 million roster that is poorly constructed and going nowhere.

But unlike the Dodgers, they make no secret about wanting to move players who have not given them a return on their investment.

Orioles GM Frank Wren has initiated talks with almost a dozen teams involving starting pitchers Scott Erickson and Juan Guzman, reliever Arthur Rhodes and even outfielders Brady Anderson and Albert Belle, both of whom carry leverage to veto deals.

Contenders including the Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, New York Mets and Texas Rangers used the All-Star break to express strong interest in players who might help them reach a World Series but are no longer considered part of the Orioles future. Cleveland is big on Erickson and Texas is hot for Guzman.

The Orioles, last in the AL East entering the weekend, do have a list of untouchables: pitchers Mike Mussina, Sidney Ponson and Jason Johnson; catcher Charles Johnson; third baseman Cal Ripken and left fielder B.J. Surhoff.

``You're not only looking short term but long term,'' Wren said. ``You can move them, but does it make you better? In some cases you might be better today, but are you better in the future? Clubs have interest in our guys. The question is how much each has to offer.''

Bosox stars

All-Star starter Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox could become only the second shortstop since Ernie Banks (1958) to lead his league in slugging percentage, joining Milwaukee's Robin Yount (1982). Yount also won MVP that year. . . . Pedro Martinez makes his first start of the second half today, meaning he has fifteen starts left if he pitches every fifth game. He would need to win them all to finish with 30 victories.

For his own good

White Sox manager Jerry Manuel benched shortstop Mike Caruso for the final game of the first half and is expected to give Craig Wilson some extended playing time at short in the second half. Caruso finished the first half in a 3-for-22 slump that dropped his on-base percentage to .278, the lowest among AL hitters with enough plate appearances to qualify for a batting title. Caruso's defense has been even worse. He had five errors in the first 52 games but has committed 11 in his last 26 starts. ``We're trying to put a challenge out there for him,'' Manuel said. ``His job is basically on the line in the second half. I'm just being honest with him.''

Hit man

Cleveland's Manny Ramirez, the major-league RBI leader with 96 in his first 78 games, has a shot to catch Hack Wilson, who holds the record with 191. Ramirez averaged 1.23 RBI per game in the first 78 games of the season. If he maintains that average in the last 75 regular-season games, he would finish with 188. To break Wilson's record, Ramirez must average 1.28 RBI per game in the second half. That would give him 192.

Tipoff time

There is concern that Yankees right-hander Roger Clemens is struggling in part because he is tipping his pitches to hitters. He was roughed up by the Mets in his last start before the break and came back Thursday to lose to Atlanta 6-2. More than one Met said Clemens gave away his slider from the stretch position. He threw 104 pitches and only two were swung on and missed by Mets batters. American League left-handed hitters seem to have figured him out, too. They're batting .299 against Clemens, up 102 points from a year ago.