DODGERS CLOSE IN ON DREIFORT DEAL ROCKIES MAKE STRONG PUSH TO COUNTER L.A.'S FIVE-YEAR, $57.5 MILLION OFFER.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

DALLAS - The Dodgers are close to finishing a deal to keep right-hander Darren Dreifort in Los Angeles for five years that will pay him $57.5 million, sources said, and an announcement could come as early as Monday.

Dreifort's agent, Scott Boras, continues to meet with general manager Kevin Malone at the winter meetings, and Boras continues speaking with Dodgers managing partner, CEO and chairman Bob Daly in trying to finalize a contract.

Malone and Boras both said a deal isn't imminent, but officials from two National League clubs said they believed the deal was complete. An announcement isn't expected until Monday because language and the yearly financial breakdown needs to be agreed upon, and that remains a potential deal breaker.

``I'm still confident because this is where Darren wants to be,'' Malone said. ``I think this is the right environment, the right culture, with Kevin Brown and Chan Ho Park and Andy Ashby and Dodger Stadium. He's comfortable in the environment. The pressure isn't on him to be a No. 1 or a No. 2 starter.''

A significant hurdle is the yearly breakdown of the contract, sources said, as the Dodgers try to establish their payroll not only for 2001, but for future years. They already have 16 players for a guaranteed $82.7 million under contract for next season.

The signing of Dreifort and the signing of Park, who is arbitration eligible and should make at least $10 million, would take the payroll past $100 million. The Dodgers are trying to remain below $105 million for 2001, but $110 million is more realistic.

``When you get into the deals, there are obvious deal points that are considered important and necessary. Those points are different for each team,'' Boras said. ``You're talking about issues of placement of dollars, and movement of dollars in the contract. Those terms become substantial weights of issue.''

Malone and Boras met Saturday, and they're scheduled to meet again this evening. Boras is also slated to meet with Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd today. But after signing Mike Hampton ($123.8 million) and Denny Neagle ($51.5 million) for $185 million, there's a question of whether the Rockies can afford Dreifort.

Part of Hampton's contract calls for deferred payments, and the lefty will make $8 million in 2001 with the Rockies. Before the Rockies could sign Dreifort, a source said they would have to trade Pedro Astacio, and the club isn't sure it wants to do that.

There's also the issue of deferred money regarding Dreifort, and Boras customarily doesn't defer money in deals. The Dodgers don't have any players under contract with deferred money.

Boras has a Monday meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. with a third team. He plans to honor that commitment, but an announcement of a deal could come later in the day. Malone is scheduled to leave the meetings late Monday.

In case the negotiations take an unexpected bad turn, the Dodgers have contingency plans. But those plans have been put on hold.

The Dodgers have expressed interest in right-handers Pat Hentgen, Steve Trachsel and Kevin Appier, but it's been a while since they've had discussions about any of them.

``They haven't indicated they're interested in him and we're moving ahead,'' said Dan Horwits, who represents Appier.

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Photo: The announcement of a deal to keep Darren Dreifort in Los Angeles could come as early as Monday.

Associated Press File Photo