DODGERS CAN'T AFFORD HUNDLEY.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

DALLAS - Even with a payroll destined to top $100 million, the Dodgers have budgetary constraints. Because of that, they severed ties with popular catcher Todd Hundley by not offering him salary arbitration before Thursday's deadline.

The club can't sign Hundley until May 1 and they also won't get any draft picks when he signs with another club.

``The Dodgers were extremely fair and just with Todd, but there were extraneous circumstances and it just couldn't get worked out,'' said Hundley's agent, Seth Levinson. ``It had nothing to do with Todd's ability.''

The Dodgers also didn't offer salary arbitration to right-hander Ismael Valdes or Jim Leyritz, but they did offer it to right-hander Darren Dreifort, enabling the sides to continue negotiations on a multiyear deal.

``With this budget, we can't afford to spend our money on anything but pitching,'' Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone said. ``We had open talks and negotiations with Seth almost every day. We tried to figure out if there was a way to make it work.''

Sources said the favorites to land Hundley were Detroit and San Francisco. His departure creates a void in the Dodgers' lineup, particularly the power from the left side. After enduring a miserable 1999 season because of lingering affects from elbow surgery, Hundley, a hard worker and well-respected figure in the clubhouse, batted a career-high .284 with 24 homers and 70 RBI. However, injuries limited him to 90 games.

Much of the reason the Dodgers don't have the money to pay Hundley are the suffocating contracts of Carlos Perez and Devon White. The Dodgers have $82.7 million committed to 16 players for the 2001 season, $12.5 million of which goes to White and Perez. Neither are in the Dodgers' plans for 2001.