DODGERS HAVEN'T SHUT DOOR YET.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Ben Diggins and Chin-Feng Chen are 3,000 miles from the pennant race and even farther from big-league careers. But the Dodgers' top two prospects could play an important role in the hours before this afternoon's major-league trading deadline.

The club said the two are untouchable as are pitchers Eric Gagne, Luke Prokopec and Matt Herges and third baseman Adrian Beltre - all now with the Dodgers.

That doesn't mean teams aren't asking and the Dodgers aren't listening. With a 1 1/2-game lead in the National League West, they want to add a relief pitcher and possibly a starting shortstop.

Montreal's Ugueth Urbina and Pittsburgh's Mike Williams are closers who are available. The Expos want prospects. The Pirates want the right-handed Diggins, last year's top draft choice, or Chen, the organization's top prospect two seasons ago who is rebounding from shoulder surgery.

The New York Mets are looking to unload starter Rick Reed and also have talked to the Dodgers about hard-throwing right-hander Rick White.

The often-mentioned Kansas City shortstop Rey Sanchez is still around. Atlanta also is interested, but neither the Braves nor Dodgers want to pick up the prorated portion of his $3 million salary for this season. The Royals want Diggins and shortstop Alex Cora in return for Sanchez, who can become a free agent at the end of the season.

``Something could still happen,'' Dodgers interim general manager Dave Wallace said. ``Maybe it could be something small. But then the phone could ring an hour from now. A lot can change before the deadline.''

More than ever, though, players years from the major leagues are dictating deadline deals. With a new collective-bargaining agreement looming after the season, clubs have been advised by the commissioner's office to pare down the guaranteed money to veterans after this season.

The Dodgers owe $79.5 million to 12 players in 2002 alone and are faced with trying to re-sign right-hander Chan Ho Park, the most attractive player in this winter's free-agent market.

The new agreement is expected to include an increase in revenue sharing with smaller-market clubs in the form of a luxury tax. The Dodgers have the NL's highest payroll at $110 million, third overall behind the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

Of the Dodgers' untouchables, only Beltre has a multiyear deal and it expires at the end of the season. The players are cheap and their contracts do not extend beyond October 31.

``Any time you are entering into the collective-bargaining process, it is uncertain what the structure of the new labor deal will be,'' Dodgers president Bob Graziano said. ``Keeping your prospects gives you the most flexibility for the future.''

But getting most prospects from Single-A to the majors often can be more difficult than keeping down the payroll.

Chin-Feng Chen was considered the Dodgers' can't-miss talent two years ago in the Single-A California League. In just his first professional season, the native of Taiwan had more than 30 homers and 30 stolen bases.

But he flopped last year at Double-A and developed shoulder problems that later required surgery. After struggling for a half season at Single-A Vero Beach, Chen has rediscovered himself at the new Double-A affiliate in Jacksonville.

Since his promotion, Chen is batting .331 in 35 games with 13 homers and 30 RBI.

Chen's countryman, Hong-Chi Kuo, had an electrifying 97 mph fastball and is left-handed. But last season, he blew out his elbow before pitching in his first minor-league game. He underwent ``Tommy John'' reconstructive surgery and after missing the first eight weeks is pitching at an entry-level club in Florida's Gulf Coast League.

Last year, right-hander Max Regalado was named the minor league's best relief pitcher by Baseball America. He saved 30 games at Vero Beach and excelled after a promotion to Double-A. This year, his ERA is 6.35 with one save in 18 games. Regalado had been on the disabled list with rib and shoulder injuries.

Right-hander Carlos Garcia, organizational pitcher of the year in 2000 after leading Single-A San Bernardino to a second consecutive California League title, has not thrown a ball this year. He has been sidelined with bursitis in his right shoulder and is trying to regain arm strength rehabilitating in Vero Beach.

At the beginning of last season, left-hander Adrian Burnside was considered a better prospect than Prokopec, a fellow Australian. Then he injured his elbow, underwent surgery and lost a chance to play in the Olympics. After missing the first six weeks this year, Burnside is 3-3 with a 2.79 ERA at Double-A.

After a dismal decade, the Dodgers' farm system has recovered this year at the lower levels. The last two drafts supervised by Ed Creech have been productive. Jacksonville and Vero Beach won first-half titles and another Single-A club in Wilmington, N.C., has five pitchers with fastballs clocked at 95 mph.

Triple-A Las Vegas leads its division in the Pacific Coast League despite a losing record. But it also has the oldest team in the minor leagues. Last winter, the Dodgers signed many six-year minor-league free agents to fill the talent void caused by past poor drafting.

Even Diggins doesn't stand out on a stat sheet. He is just 2-6 with a 4.85 ERA in 14 starts and spent some time on the disabled list. But anyone who has passed through the South Atlantic League this season has been impressed. Diggins was a catcher in high school and was converted to the mound at the University of Arizona.

He left the Wildcats after his sophomore season. But in scout speak, everyone agrees he has ``tremendous upside.''

``It is all about trying to predict the future,'' former Dodgers player personnel director Jerry Weinstein said. ``Projecting where a player will be three years from now is not an exact science. At 18, has a player gone as far as he'll go or just scratched his potential? Trying to figure that out is one of the things that makes this game great.''

Staff Writer Brian Dohn contributed to this report.

THE PROSPECTS

The Dodgers are looking at these available players to pick up in a trade:

UGUETH URBINA, Montreal Expos: The 6-foot right-hander from Venezuela has saved 15 games. He is 2-1 and a 4.24 earned-run average. He has struck out 57 batters in 46 2/3 innings.

MIKE WILLIANS, Pittsburgh Pirates: The 33-year-old right-hander has saved 22 games, has a 2-4 record and a 3.67 ERA.

REY SANCHEZ, Kansas City Royals: The 5-foot-9, 175-pound shortstop is batting .303 and is one of the AL's top fielders.

DODGERS vs. CINCINNATI

Time: 7:10 p.m., Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: In the first of three games against the Reds, Eric Gagne (4-4, 5.31) faces right-hander Jose Acevedo (2-3, 6.44). Matchups for the rest of the series: Wednesday (7:10 p.m., Fox Sports Net 2) - Terry Adams (7-3, 4.73) vs.left-hander Lance Davis (4-1, 5.62). Thursday (7:10 p.m., Fox Sports Net 2) - Luke Prokopec (6-5, 4.31) vs. right-hander Elmer Dessens (6-8, 4.64).

- Matt McHale

CAPTION(S):

photo, 3 boxes

Photo:

DIGGINS

Box: (1) THE PROSPECTS (see text)

(2) DODGERS vs. CINCINNATI (see text)

(3) DODGERS PRESEASON TOP 10 PROSPECTS FROM BASEBALL AMERICA MAGAZINE