BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: GIANTS AWAITING WORD ON BAKER.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Manager Dusty Baker's future should be much more clear within days.

Baker's agent, Jeff Moorad, has spoken with San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean to discuss whether Baker will remain with the organization, a team official said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity. Now the Giants are waiting to hear back from Moorad.

Baker's contract expires Wednesday, 10 days after the Giants lost Game 7 of the World Series to the Angels.

Sabean agreed to a new multiyear deal with the Giants last week, and one of his first priorities is hiring a manager.

Before Game 7 of the World Series, Baker made it sound as if he was on his way out. He said he had not been convinced the Giants wanted him to return.

When asked what he would need to hear from Giants owner Peter Magowan to stick around, Baker said, ``If somebody wanted me back, a lot of times they wouldn't wait until the last minute to tell them.''

--Thome to visit Phillies: Free-agent slugger Jim Thome will visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

Thome, who hit a club-record 52 homers this season for the Cleveland Indians, is the most coveted hitter in this winter's free agent market. Phillies general manager Ed Wade said signing the 32-year-old first baseman is his top priority.

--Dodgers sign Prokopec: Right-hander Luke Prokopec, the principle player the Dodgers traded to Toronto in exchange for pitcher Paul Quantrill and shortstop Cesar Izturis, was signed to a two-year minor-league contract.

The 24-year-old Prokopec was 2-9 with a 6.78 ERA in 22 appearances for the Blue Jays before a shoulder injury ended his season. He underwent surgery to repair a tear of the labrum in his pitching shoulder Sept. 14, and might not be ready until the midpoint of the season.

The Dodgers, who lack depth at the higher minor-league levels, view Prokopec as a possible middle reliever if he recovers from surgery.

The club also announced scout Al LaMacchia, who pitched for the St. Louis Browns from 1943-46, was hired as a major-league scout and scout Mark Weidemaier was promoted to special assistant to the general manager.

--Jury selection begins for Canseco: Jose Canseco buried his face in his hands, trying not to laugh as one of the potential jurors told what she knew about his career.

``Does he play football or baseball?'' she said. ``He's not that big of an issue for me.''

Canseco's baseball career wasn't an issue for many of the 25 people interviewed Monday as jury selection began in the former American League MVP's trial on felony battery charges.

--Sabathia robbers sentenced: Two former college basketball players each were sentenced in Cleveland to four years in prison for robbing Cleveland Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia at gunpoint last spring.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Joseph D. Russo sentenced Damon Stringer, 25, and Jamaal Harris, 23, on their guilty pleas to aggravated robbery with a gun. Harris also pleaded guilty to robbery.

The two had been teammates at Cleveland State.

--Ted Williams' son being sued: The son of Hall of Famer Ted Williams is being sued in Lawrence, Mass., by a promoter who contends he is owed more money from the sale of NBA sports memorabilia.

Jury selection began Monday. The case is expected to last up to two weeks.

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LUKE PROKOPEC

Dodgers signed pitcher they traded last year to a minor-league contract.