DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GRISSOM FIT, CONFIDENT.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Marquis Grissom was a Gold Glove center fielder, a World Series champion and a leadoff hitter who brought consistency to a lineup. However, many believe he's on the decline.

Grissom, who turns 34 two weeks into the baseball season, disagrees with that assessment.

``I know that's the concern, but I evaluate myself every year,'' Grissom said before his first workout Tuesday with the Dodgers. ``If I had thought I was washed up or hurt or done and I couldn't go out there, I'd go home.''

Instead, Grissom came to Dodgertown after he was traded by Milwaukee for Devon White on Sunday. And he hopes he left what was possibly his worst major-league season behind.

Grissom's .288 on-base percentage was the worst of any starter in baseball last season and was only .014 above his career batting average. He also hit 12 homers, drove in 66 runs and stole 22 bases, but it wasn't good enough: He was informed by management after the season that he wouldn't be a starter.

An offseason of contemplation led Grissom to accept his role as a back up, which is why he has no problem hearing Dodgers manager Jim Tracy say Tom Goodwin is the center fielder.

However, if needed, Grissom think's he's ready to be a starter. He said an injury to his back and hamstring, which took more than two years to diagnose properly, caused his recent decline.

--Sheffield won't travel: Though the travel roster won't be set for another day or two, Tracy said left fielder Gary Sheffield won't be part of the travel team that goes to Port St. Lucie to face the Mets on Saturday.

The Mets are one of three teams to which Sheffield has said he'd like to be traded. The Dodgers have done their best to keep the Sheffield situation from becoming a distraction, and Tracy said he didn't want to create a circus atmosphere by bringing Sheffield to the Mets' training complex.

``Just knowing what the situation is and thinking like that, I just don't really want to go there,'' Tracy said. ``We don't want to make it an issue. We're not going to make it an issue.''

General manager Kevin Malone continues to talk to teams interested in Sheffield. The Yankees, Braves and Mets - the three teams to which Sheffield has asked to be traded - remain the leading candidates. Malone is looking for a third team to get involved in the deal because Atlanta and the Mets are unwilling to surrender an outfielder who can produce runs, sources said.

--Catching with three: Talented catching prospect Angel Pena made two sharp throws during Tuesday's intrasquad scrimmage, and his spring training could change the complexion of the Dodgers' roster. Pena is out of minor-league options and the Dodgers don't think he'll clear waivers if they try to send him to the minors.

If Pena has a strong spring and exhibits a good attitude, which he hasn't in the past, Malone said the club might carry three catchers. It would allow the team to keep Pena, who was the organization's top prospect two years ago, and use Paul LoDuca as a utility player.

``I think (Pena) showed the type of arm that could shut down a running game,'' Malone said. ``If he can earn a spot on the team, he could really help late in a game. He's got the tools, but he's been inconsistent in his performance.''

Pena, 26, would share the catching role with LoDuca and Chad Kreuter, but he would also be used as a late-inning right-handed bat off the bench.