DODGERS NOTEBOOK: VOLATILE PEREZ OK AS DODGER.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Every time Odalis Perez talked to his agent this offseason, there seemed to be a new destination for him.

Every couple weeks, another trade possibility popped up, and Perez learned that he might be headed to - among other places - Boston, Chicago or St. Louis.

But spring training has arrived and, somewhat surprisingly, Perez is still with the Dodgers. His name was often included in trade talks designed to bring the Dodgers a power hitter, in part because of his shaky relationship with teammates and management, but Perez said he wasn't bothered.

``I'm a professional, and I know what it's like to get traded,'' said Perez, who came to the Dodgers in the 2002 deal that sent Gary Sheffield to Atlanta.

``I don't know what's in the mind of the new ownership. We didn't make a big move and we've got a lot of pitchers. Everybody who wants a spot in this rotation is going to have to work hard, and if they think somebody needs to get traded, that's what will happen.''

Perez remains the most likely candidate to be traded even though he's a talented 26-year-old left-hander, a top commodity who won 15 games in 2002 and showed moments of brilliance last season.

But Perez was also scorned last season when he criticized management for not improving the offense and for a late-season issue regarding a blister. By all accounts, Perez was correct on both issues, but remained something of an outcast in the Dodger clubhouse.

Perez said he didn't think there would be any lingering problems with his teammates, and when asked if he would continue to speak his mind, Perez shrugged and said, ``I'm honest.''

--Canseco tryout: The Dodgers haven't expressed any interest in signing Jose Canseco, but that won't stop Canseco from attending an open tryout here on March 1.

Sources said Canseco offered his services to the Dodgers but was rebuffed, and was instead told he could attend the tryout. If he attends, Canseco will get a look from Dodger scouts, but no special treatment. The last known player to be signed from one of these tryouts was catcher Rick Wilkins in 1999.

Canseco, 39, lives in Encino and hasn't appeared in the majors since he played 36 games with the Chicago White Sox in 2001. He has 462 home runs in parts of 17 seasons.

--Unhappy camper?: Eric Gagne was told by manager Jim Tracy that he could be late in reporting to spring training as long as he arrived by Monday morning. Gagne could report as soon as this morning, but for now he's feeling the sting of losing an arbitration case that cost him $3 million.

``He was upset when I talked to him, and you would understand that,'' Tracy said.

``He's said it and I've said it; he hasn't reached his high-water mark yet,'' Tracy said. ``I don't see any scenario in which the (salary) number will go down in the coming years. ... He's going to make more money, a lot more money.''

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

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Dodgers starter Odalis Perez participates in spring training workouts in Vero Beach. The controversial Perez was the center of trade rumors in the offseason, but he's still a Dodger.

Rick Silva/Associated Press