DODGERS CLOSE TO ACQUIRING GRUDZIELANEK.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

A trade that will fill the Dodgers' shortstop void and solve their Wilton Guerrero conundrum is close to being complete, sources said Wednesday.

The deal that will bring Expos shortstop Mark Grudzielanek to the Dodgers in exchange for Guerrero, a second baseman, is contingent on the Montreal Expos being sure of Guerrero's health, one source said. Guerrero underwent surgery Oct. 3 to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

``Close is a difficult thing to specify,'' said Dodgers executive vice president Fred Claire, who as a rule does not confirm his trade talks.

Claire said the Dodgers have spoken with several clubs about shortstops and also to a few free agents. He would not get into specifics.

Grudzielanek will never be confused with Ozzie Smith in the field, but he plays hard and he can hit. His 54 doubles last season tied a major-league record for most by a shortstop. Batting mostly leadoff, he walked just 23 times and his on-base percentage was just .307.

Grudzielanek is 28 years old and comes relatively cheap. After hitting .306 in an All-Star season in 1996, his second in the majors, Grudzielanek lost a bitter contract fight with the Expos last spring training and made just $220,000 in 1997. He is eligible for arbitration this winter. Whatever Grudzielanek, who hit .273 with 54 doubles last season, gets for 1998 will be far less than the $3 million Greg Gagne was paid last season.

While it may be some time before Grudzielanek commands the type of money that the Expos don't pay, he has been a vocal critic of the Expos' payroll paring and had predicted in Montreal papers he would be unhappy again this spring training.

The move makes sense for Guerrero and the Expos as well. It will reunite Wilton with his younger brother, Vladimir, the Expos' right fielder. And perhaps it will alleviate some of the pressure he felt playing for the Dodgers.

Guerrero was touted as the next great rookie for the Dodgers. His displays of raw talent with a glove and a bat were everything it was billed to be. But his mental lapses on the bases and in the field infuriated the Dodgers and caused them to trade for Eric Young in the stretch.

The Dodgers are also high on Adam Riggs, who joined them in August last season and all but replaced Guerrero before Young arrived.

GRUDZIELANEK VS. GUERRERO

According to sources, the Dodgers are close to acquiring shortstop Mark Grudzielanek (left) fro the Expos in a trade that would include 2B Wilton Guerrero (right). A look at each player's 1996 statistics:

AB H R Avg.

Grudzielanek 649 177 76 .273

Guerrero 357 104 39 .291

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1) GRUDZIELANEK

(2) GUERRERO

BOX: GRUDZIELANEK VS. GUERRERO (see text)