DODGERS NOTEBOOK: CAN THEY SIGN DREIFORT, PARK?

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The Dodgers will attempt to sign right-hander Darren Dreifort to a long-term deal before the free-agent market opens in November, and they also will try to ink right-hander Chan Ho Park to a contract extension during the offseason, baseball officials said.

Dreifort is available for free agency after the season, and given the way he's pitched since the All-Star break, he could be one of the top pitchers available. Dreifort has gone 6-0 with a 3.09 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break.

The 28-year-old Dreifort is in his third season as a starter and has become more consistent with his delivery. Dreifort, who won a career-high 13 games last season, is tied with Kevin Brown for second on the staff in wins this season. He's 10-7 with a 4.51 ERA.

Park, 27, is eligible for salary arbitration after the season and could become a free agent before after the 2001 season. But the Dodgers don't want Park entering a year in which he's pitching with the pressure of free agency looming, an official said. Park (12-8) leads the Dodgers in wins and he has a 3.81 ERA.

Prior to the 1999 season, Park turned down a four-year deal worth more than $30 million. In the past, Park has stated he wanted to remain with the Dodgers because of his affinity for the organization and Los Angeles.

Both pitchers are represented by Scott Boras, who also represents pitcher Kevin Brown, third baseman Adrian Beltre and promising young right-hander Eric Gagne, who's expected to be back in the starting rotation next season.

--No. 1 pick to sign: Power pitcher Ben Diggins, a 21-year-old right-hander out of the University of Arizona, has agreed to a deal with the Dodgers that includes a $2.2 million signing bonus, sources said.

The sides have agreed on the contract, but Diggins first must pass a physical, a source added. The deal is expected to be announced Wednesday or Thursday.

Diggins, the Dodgers' top pick (No. 17 overall), went 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA for Arizona last season. He also hit nine homers and batted .336 for the Wildcats. Time became an enormous issue because Arizona started classes Monday, and if Diggins were to attend, the Dodgers would lose his draft rights.

However, Diggins informed school officials Sunday night that he and the Dodgers were close to a deal and he would leave the university.

``At this point, he's has not attended any classes,'' said Jeff Berry, Diggins' agent. ``I think we've come to a point where we can agree to a number we all feel good about.''

--Add Alou to mix? With speculation rampant about Dodgers manager Davey Johnson's future, Montreal manager Felipe Alou, who was general manager Kevin Malone's first choice to manage the Dodgers two years ago, knew he was the next target. Alou turned down the Dodgers in 1998 and signed a lucrative deal to remain with the Expos, but he's under fire by Montreal's new regime.

``The best thing to do right now is to keep my mouth shut until I have the opportunity to open it,'' Alou said. ``It has nothing to do with Kevin Malone or the Expos. It has to do with me, and some personal things I believe I have to express.''

--Odds and ends: Left fielder Gary Sheffield's hearing for his appeal of his five-game suspension is officially scheduled for Monday when the Dodgers are in Milwaukee. . . . The Dodgers are expected to soon announce a deal to play minor-league ball in Wilmington, Del., of the Single-A South Atlantic League and that they've renewed their agreement with Vero Beach of the Single-A Florida State League. They continue to seek a place for the Triple-A club, which will leave Albuquerque after the season. Portland, Ore., remains the favorite.

DODGERS vs. MONTREAL

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

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 610-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish)

Matchup: The Dodgers flip-flopped their rotation to get right-hander Ismael Valdes and the blister on his right hand another day to heal. Valdes (2-6, 5.55 ERA) is looking for his first win since returning to the Dodgers in late July. Valdes is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA with the Dodgers, but he pitched three times during a five-day span last week and went 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Lefty Trey Moore (1-3, 5.40 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season for the Expos. In 20 innings he's allowed 29 hits and walked nine.

- Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo: (1) SNIDER

(2) SHEFFIELD

Box: (1) Chasing Duke

(2) Dodgers vs. Montreal (see text)