DODGERS' EVANS BUILDS A WINNER.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Dan Evans' first three moves when he joined the Dodgers as a special assistant to interim general manager Dave Wallace were to trade for James Baldwin, Terry Mulholland and Mike Trombley for last year's playoff push.

Dodgers chairman Bob Daly hired him as full-time GM, anyway.

And today, in spite of Evans' slow start, in spite of being belittled by Reds GM Jim Bowden at the winter meetings for not making Tommy Lasorda more visible and being ripped nationally for trading Gary Sheffield, Evans has justified Daly's confidence.

In what was supposed to be a retooling year cleverly disguised as a return to pitching and defense, the Dodgers have been a significant surprise. Despite a smaller payroll and the Sheffield trade, the Dodgers (54-34) begin the season's second half today with a 2 1/2-game lead over visiting Arizona in the National League West.

Clearly, closer Eric Gagne's 32 saves, Shawn Green's 26 homers and 68 RBI and a starting pitching staff with a league-high 44 wins are the biggest reasons the Dodgers are on top.

However, it was Evans who put the team in a position to win with a series of clever moves - he brought in nine of the 25 players on the roster - and he deserves credit.

And the rookie GM will get more chances to prove his worth in the next few weeks as the Dodgers look to add bullpen and bench help before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline.

``You can't say enough good things about what (Evans) has done,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``I think it's high time he be given his due for the wonderful work that he and the scouts that surround him, and the scouts that are out in the field, have done in finding the players he knows fits my type of mentality.

``They got together and put together the people that they knew would fit the mold of the way I run this ballclub, and they deserve an awful lot of credit. We've covered a lot of miles in a very short period of time.''

Some of the success should be attributed to luck.

The best example: Most of the Dodgers agree the unexpected emergence of Gagne as the most effective closer in baseball made the biggest impact so far.

Evans targeted at least 10 other closers and thought a deal for Anaheim's Troy Percival was done in December before a Disney executive scuttled it. On Tuesday, Gagne was one of three Dodgers in the All-Star Game.

However, Evans made many trades and acquisitions through free agency that paid enormous dividends.

The trade that brought the most scrutiny - Sheffield to Atlanta for left fielder Brian Jordan, pitcher Odalis Perez and a minor-leaguer - is working out marvelously for the Dodgers.

Perez, at 10-4 with a 2.81 ERA and two one-hitters, is an All-Star at 24 and Jordan helped transform an emotionless clubhouse into an enthusiastic one.

Sheffield is batting .265 with 15 homers and 46 RBI, but his value to Atlanta cannot be measured until the postseason.

``I remember a lot of questions about Gary, and we weren't going to trade Gary unless it was the right deal,'' Evans said. ``We walked away from a couple of deals that we easily could have made, but they didn't make sense. Our scouts knew who Odalis Perez was and knew what he could do, and knew the character of Brian Jordan.

``Publicly, (people) didn't recognize it that way because a lot of the critics didn't know who Perez was. I think their lack of knowledge resulted in negative criticism. In fact, it was probably not mentioned from their point of view, but that's OK. I'm not concerned with what other people are saying at any time, good or bad. I can't operate that way.

``I have to operate in a way that our baseball staff and I believe is the best way to improve our ballclub. Sometimes the popular deals might be popular initially but might be unpopular once the players take the field.''

Evans spent 19 years working his way through the Chicago White Sox organization, so he understands persistence. He's calculating and painstakingly systematic.

Philadelphia was going to release pitcher Omar Daal, but Evans suggested that Phillies general manager Ed Wade exercise Daal's $5 million option so the Dodgers - in need of starting pitching depth - could trade for him.

Daal turned out to be the first of four starters - Perez, Hideo Nomo and Kazuhisa Ishii - Evans acquired in the offseason. And, as it turned out, the depth proved to be invaluable.

Staff ace Kevin Brown went on the disabled list three weeks into the season, returned for six starts and was shelved again because of another elbow injury and then back surgery. His replacement in the rotation? Daal, who is 7-4 with a 4.15 ERA.

``I wasn't concerned about any of the criticisms because I trusted our staff,'' Evans said. ``I had some good advice from people I consider mentors. They said to trust the people that you hired, trust the people that were there and don't worry about evaluations from people that are external from that because you'll get a chance to play with the game plan you put in place.''

Patience also enabled Evans to land starting shortstop Cesar Izturis and reliever Paul Quantrill from Toronto for Luke Prokopec, whom the Dodgers viewed as a fifth starter or middle reliever. Izturis, an excellent fielder, solidified the middle of the infield and Quantrill is the top set-up man.

That deal was possible after Evans backed out of a Sheffield-to-Oakland trade when Athletics general manager Billy Beane refused to include a pitching prospect.

Evans also traded for center fielder Dave Roberts from Cleveland for two minor-leaguers. Roberts, who has a .368 on-base percentage, is the Dodgers' first real leadoff hitter since Brett Butler.

Cold, hard cash was also a piece of the offseason equation.

Nomo signed a two-year, $14 million deal as a free agent and has turned into a jewel with seven consecutive wins and a 9-5 mark with a 3.16 ERA. Evans also got the go-ahead to bid $11.26 million for the rights to negotiate a contract with Ishii. The Japanese left-hander, who then signed a four-year, $12.3 million contract, concerned team brass with a wild spring training but has emerged as the leading Rookie of the Year candidate with a 11-5 record and 3.58 ERA.

``Look at the moves Dan's made,'' Gagne said. ``They've worked out very well. I think that says a lot about him and you have confidence when he can do something like that.''

DAN'S DEALS

The following is a list of major transactions - trades and free-agent signings - by Dodgers GM Dan Evans:

--July 26 - Acquired RHP James Baldwin from White Sox for three minor leaguers. Baldwin went 3-6 with a 4.20 ERA and was not re-signed in offseason.

--July 31 - Acquired LHP Terry Mulholland from Pirates for RHP Mike Fetters and a minor leaguer. Mulholland is 1-1 with a 7.30 ERA as a Dodger.

--July 31 - Acquired RHP Mike Trombley from Baltimore for two minor leaguers. Trombley went 0-4 with 6.56 ERA last season and is home collecting $2 million this season from the Dodgers.

--Nov. 9 - Acquired LHP Omar Daal from Phillies for two minor leaguers. Daal is 7-4 with a 4.15 ERA and provides rotation depth with RHP Kevin Brown injured.

--Dec. 13 - Acquired SS Cesar Izturis and RHP Paul Quantrill for RHP Luke Prokopec and a minor leaguer. Izturis is a fabulous fielder. Quantrill rebounded from a brutal start to become a reliable setup man.

--Dec. 20 - Signed RHP Hideo Nomo to two-year, $14 million contract. Rejuvenated Nomo is on seven-game winning streak and is 9-5 with a 3.16 ERA.

--Dec. 21 - Acquired OF Dave Roberts from Cleveland for two minor leaguers. Roberts stabilized leadoff spot with .368 on-base percentage and is solid in CF.

--Jan. 15 - Acquired OF Brian Jordan, LHP Odalis Perez and minor leaguer for LF Gary Sheffield. Perez (10-4, 2.81 ERA) is an All-Star. Jordan shaped club chemistry and brought enthusiasm.

-- Feb. 8 - Signed LHP Kazuhisa Ishii to a four-year, $12.3 million contract. Club also bid $11.23 million for rights, but payoff is big in form of 11-5 mark with 3.58 ERA.

--March 23 - Acquired RHP Guillermo Mota and a minor leaguer from Montreal for RHP Matt Herges and minor leaguer. Mota, who throws 96 to 98 mph, moved into significant relief role alongside Giovanni Carrara.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) The acquisition of Odalis Perez was just one of several good moves made by rookie Dodgers general manager Dan Evans.

Photo Illustration by Shane Kidder

(2 -- color) EVANS

Box:

DAN'S DEALS (see text)