CAL LEAGUE AWAITS RETURN OF DODGERS.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The Dodgers soon might be coming back to a California League city near you.

At least that's the opinion of Cal League president Joe Gagliardi, who believes such a return would be a win-win situation for the league and the Dodgers.

The Dodgers gave up their San Bernardino affiliate in the California League at the end of the 2000 season in order to keep their working agreement with Single-A Vero Beach (Fla.). They had to choose between the two advanced Single-A affiliates because the National Association (baseball's governing body) mandated major-league teams couldn't have more than one Triple-A or high Single-A team.

In accordance with the mandate, the Dodgers established a player-development contract with high Single-A Wilmington (N.C.) in the South Atlantic League. They've since changed their Single-A affiliation and are involved in a working agreement with Single-A South Georgia.

The Dodgers could return to the Cal League if they give up their Vero Beach affiliate or ask the National Association for permission to have two Single-A teams.

Precedents for the latter scenario exist. The NA made exceptions to the mandate in 2000, allowing the Houston Astros to keep two Single-A teams, and the Oakland A's to keep two Triple-A teams in the Cal League.

The Dodgers are locked into player-development contracts with all their affiliates from Single-A to Triple-A through 2004, but Gagliardi said a Dodgers return could occur by the end of the 2004 negotiating cycle.

``It'll give them ample enough time for whatever maneuvers they need to make, but they really should be back in our league,'' Gagliardi said. ``I think it's important to the Southern California area that they are a part of it.

``It's basically the right connection, and that's why I just think the move back to the California League will eventually happen.''

Dodgers farm director Bill Bavasi said he hasn't spoken with Gagliardi regarding the possibility.

``That's news to me,'' Bavasi said. ``I consider Joe (Gagliardi) a friend, and I respect the job he's done in the Cal League, but I can't respond intelligently because I haven't heard anything about it.''

However, Bavasi won't rule out a possible return in the future.

``We'll always look at the Cal League because we are the Los Angeles Dodgers,'' he said. ``We'll never turn our back on the Cal League because it's in our backyard.''

Staff writer Brian Dohn contributed to this report.