DODGERS NOTEBOOK: SORIANO, MUELLER ARE AMONG THE POSSIBLE ACQUISITIONS.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

DALLAS - The Dodgers are actively engaged in talks with Texas about a possible trade for Rangers second baseman Alfonso Soriano, but it isn't clear where he would fit. Any such deal likely would include Dodgers pitching prospect Jonathan Broxton, who made his major-league debut last season.

There were whispers on Tuesday the Dodgers might want Soriano to play first base, presently a black hole in their lineup, but a club official denied that. There is no room for Soriano at second because Jeff Kent will play there until Cesar Izturis returns from the disabled list sometime around the All-Star break, when Kent probably will move to first to make room for Izturis at second.

Soriano hit 36 homers and drove in 104 runs last season, but the Rangers are looking to dump his salary. He made $7.5 million and is eligible for arbitration as a five-plus player, meaning he stands to make $9.5-10 million in 2006. He also is a defensive liability, having led American League second baseman with 21 errors.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers continue to pursue free-agent third baseman Bill Mueller, who is believed to have received a two-year offer from Pittsburgh. Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said he has made an offer to at least one of the three free-agent third base possibilities - Mueller, Joe Randa and Nomar Garciaparra - the Dodgers are interested in, but wouldn't say which one. Colletti also said he isn't opposed to signing a third baseman for two years despite the belief prospect Andy LaRoche will be ready to play every day in 2007.

Colletti said the Dodgers are talking to ``four or five'' clubs about possible trades for middle-of-the-rotation-caliber starters, but that any additional offensive acquisitions probably would come via free-agent signings.

--Coaching staff: The first order of business for new Dodgers manager Grady Little is to assemble a coaching staff, a process that is expected to begin during the two remaining days of this week's winter meetings. Colletti will have input into the process.

``A manager should never have a coach on his staff that he's not comfortable with,'' Colletti said. ``At the same time, a GM shouldn't have a coach on the staff he's not comfortable with. I think that's the best way. I'm sure Grady has some people in mind that he knows well and has respect for.''

Little, who was hired to manage Boston two-thirds of the way through spring training in 2002, said he feels no sense of urgency to get a staff in place despite the fact the offseason already is half gone.

``We'll start on it right away, but I feel like we have a long time,'' Little said.

--Bradley update: The Dodgers' effort to unload troubled center fielder Milton Bradley went to extremes last month when owner Frank McCourt, who at the time didn't have a GM, gave permission to Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker to meet with Bradley.

Baker flew from his Sacramento home to Los Angeles and had lunch with Bradley, and Baker said Tuesday that it went well. A Cubs official said Tuesday the club's interest in Bradley remains high, but that it's not a high priority during this week's winter meetings.

The Oakland A's on Tuesday withdrew their interest in acquiring Bradley.

--Grabowski gone: Former Dodgers outfielder Jason Grabowski, who in two seasons with the club batted .196 and struck out 79 times in 285 at-bats, has signed a one-year contract with the Orix Buffaloes of the Japanese Pacific League.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com