DODGERS NOTEBOOK: HUNDLEY HOLDING NO GRUDGES.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

DALLAS - A day after not being offered salary arbitration, catcher Todd Hundley said more time with the Dodgers just wasn't meant to be.

``The actual decision of the Dodgers? I don't know if I'm bummed,'' Hundley said. ``I just think . . . The bottom line is I thanked (general manager) Kevin Malone and thanked him for giving me a chance and believing in me and showing faith in me. I don't hold any grudges or anything toward the Dodgers. I wish we could have won more ballgames.''

Hundley, 31, hit 48 homers in his two seasons in Los Angeles, though he suffered through two injury-prone years.

Hundley batted a career-high .284 with 24 homers and 70 RBI last season, but he played only 90 games because of a series of injuries. That came on the heals of a 1999 season in which Hundley played with a sore right elbow and numbness in his right hand. But, in a move to protect Malone, who traded Charles Johnson for him, Hundley didn't make the injury public.

Hundley's agent, Seth Levinson, tried to structure a deal with the Dodgers in which much of the money was backloaded, but an agreement couldn't be reached.

``When I was going through it (in 2000) when I had the pulled oblique, all the (at-bats) I was missing was killing me,'' Hundley said. ``To come back and break my thumb a week later and be out for another month, when those things happen, I don't think it was meant to be.''

Hundley remained in his Los Angeles-area home as the winter meetings began, but he plans on narrowing his list to two or three teams, possibly by today. A decision could be made by Tuesday. Detroit, the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco remain as the main suitors.

``I'm not going to say any one team is the leading candidate,'' said Hundley, who is from Chicago. ``We've talked to a lot of teams, and there are some options.''

--Dodgers target Borbon: In search of a veteran lefty for the bullpen, the Dodgers turned their attention to Pedro Borbon. Malone discussed with Toronto GM Gord Ash the idea of bringing Borbon back to Los Angeles, sources said.

Toronto is close to signing lefty Dan Plesac, which would make Borbon, who has two years remaining on his contract, available. The Blue Jays are looking for a right-handed reliever, and the Dodgers prepared to offer Antonio Osuna for Borbon, sources said.

Borbon was 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA last season, but left-handers batted .209 (18 for 86) against him. Borbon was 4-3 with a 4.09 ERA for the Dodgers in 1999, and lefties batted .156 (14 for 90) against him.

The Dodgers were targeting lefty Terry Mulholland, but he's close to signing a two-year deal with Pittsburgh that should be worth $5 to $6 million.