DEPODESTA TO SHUFFLE JOBS IN DODGERS' FRONT OFFICE.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta cleared up some misconceptions on Thursday about his ongoing restructuring of the club's front office, saying the process remains in its preliminary stages and that few decisions have been finalized.

DePodesta, who expects to begin serious negotiations next week on a new contract for manager Jim Tracy, also denied one published report that special assistant Mark Weidemaier isn't being retained.

``There is no anticipated change there,'' DePodesta said. ``(But) we have given some of our people permission to talk to other clubs.''

Among them are senior advisor John Boles, special assistant Jeff Schugel, senior scouting advisor Don Welke and professional scouting director Matt Slater. But of those, Boles and Schugel are leaving the organization on their own, and DePodesta probably will offer Slater another position within the organization.

DePodesta was quick to say the Slater decision is not based on performance. He plans to eliminate Slater's current position under the new structure. DePodesta said he probably will add a vice president, although he hasn't decided what that job would entail.

``It really depends on the makeup of the rest of the front office, such as the farm director situation, etc.,'' DePodesta said. ``It's not necessarily a done deal, which is why I haven't been calling around asking for permission to interview people yet, but it's probably going to happen.

``I don't know the exact title, but it will be at the vice-president level. It will depend on who the individual is and what their experience is. It will be a person with significant baseball experience who can help both with scouting and player development.''

Without a pro scouting director, the organization's major-league scouts will report to that individual. Dodgers minor-league field coordinator Terry Collins is a virtual lock to land the farm director's job, which has been vacant since last winter, but Collins also is a candidate for the New York Mets' managerial vacancy.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com