BASEBALL FREE AGENTS: TOP TALENT UP FOR FREE AGENCY BLOATED CONTRACTS SHOULD KEEP DODGERS OUT OF STAR BIDDING.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ed Wade publicly stated he would make contract offers to first baseman Jim Thome, pitcher Tom Glavine and third baseman David Bell today, the first day teams may begin negotiating with free agents.

The New York Yankees and Mets also are in the Glavine pursuit, and Atlanta might hold on to right-hander Greg Maddux. And outfielder Cliff Floyd and second baseman Jeff Kent loom as the largest free-agent catches.

The Dodgers don't plan to make any offers, at least not at this juncture, because of restrictive contracts and an overburdened payroll in the face of a luxury tax that could keep salaries down.

The Yankees, who could lose pitcher Roger Clemens, want to trim at least $10 million from their payroll as teams eye the $117 million luxury-tax threshold.

``It gives clubs making a lot of money reason to make more money,'' said agent Scott Boras, who represents Maddux. ``They're telling the fans there's an artificial line they can go over. Clubs in (2003) are making more than they did in '02, and more than they did in '01 and years before. The Yankees are changing how they do business.''

Texas, the Yankees, Colorado and the Mets are each trying to cut payroll significantly, which should have telling ramifications on the free-agent market. It is a mode the Dodgers have been in for the past two years.

Thanks to bloated contracts, the Dodgers enter the busiest time of the offseason trying to find complementary players. A left-handed reliever is on their wish list. So is a left-handed bat for the bench, perhaps doubling as a platoon with Eric Karros at first base.

But unless general manager Dan Evans can find a taker for either second baseman Mark Grudzielanek or Karros, don't expect anything sexy from Evans. To make a significant move, he'd have to be dazzled by an offer for talented but inconsistent third baseman Adrian Beltre, who surely will be discussed as a trade bait throughout the offseason.

However, sources said the Dodgers are leaning toward keeping Beltre, a four-year major-leaguer who is only 23.

``We already knew there was going to be a lot of challenges in the offseason because of a limited flow of free agents (leaving) our club,'' Evans said Monday from the general manager's meetings in Tucson, Ariz. ``That's OK. I already knew this offseason we were going to have to be very creative. We're improving as a club, but I think we're a ways away from being where we want to be.''

The contract extensions awarded to Karros and Grudzielanek after the 1999 season and the cost of signing right-handers Kevin Brown, Darren Dreifort and Andy Ashby to free-agent deals during the Kevin Malone era are being felt, as are the current restrictions.

Bet the ranch that Evans brought up Karros, Grudzielanek, Brown and Dreifort to the other 29 clubs, but officials across baseball believe none is tradeable because of their contracts. The four are guaranteed $39.5 million in salary in 2003, and Brown and Dreifort have a combined $82 million guaranteed through the 2005 season.

The Dodgers have $94.5 million tied into 12 players and trying to keep the major-league payroll below $108 million to avoid luxury taxs. Also, left-hander Odalis Perez, a 15-game winner, could make $4 million to $5 million in arbitration after making $625,000 last season.

The club is willing to trade right-hander Andy Ashby, who will make $8 million in 2003 and could earn $8.5 million in 2004 with a vesting option, but he has a limited no-trade clause and there isn't much demand for him, sources said.

``We already talked to every club and there are a lot of clubs that are willing to be exploratory with a number of things,'' Evans said.

Evans told the agents of pitcher Jesse Orosco and Dave Hansen the club is interested in re-signing them, but added the club would look to improve at their positions and therefore a contract offer wasn't a certainty.

Other factors could hinder the Dodgers search for help. The team likes free-agent left-hander Mike Remlinger, but he would cost a first-round draft pick. The Dodgers are also interested in left-handed relievers Mike Stanton and Dan Pleasac, but Evans, speaking of no player in particular, said he doesn't want to give away draft picks when signing free agents.

``It's going to be a philosophy that we want to protect the draft picks,'' Evans said.

The World Series-champion Angels also don't figure to be major players this offseason. General manager Bill Stoneman is in Tucson, Ariz., but their needs are simple: a left-handed reliever and a fourth or fifth outfielder.

Stoneman also must contend with a payroll that could soar nearly $15 million to $75 million because of raises in veterans' contracts and arbitration-eligible players. Among the more interesting things to watch will be whether Stoneman trades first baseman/designated hitter Brad Fullmer, who could make $5 million in salary arbitration but is likely to platoon next season. Only backups Orlando Palmeiro and Alex Ochoa are free agents.

--Notes: Dodgers bench coach Jim Riggleman had his second interview with Seattle about the Mariners' vacant manager position. Riggleman, Buddy Bell, Arizona bench coach Bob Melvin and Baltimore bench coach Sam Perlozzo are the four finalists. The Mariners should name Lou Piniella's replacement by late Wednesday. ...

Unlike Dodgers left fielder Brian Jordan, pitchers Paul Shuey and Paul Quantrill both decided not to file their right to demand a trade. Players traded in the middle of multi-year deals have that right, which Jordan exercised two weeks ago

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