DODGERS UPDATE: DODGERS SEO THEIR STARTING ROTATION TRADE MIGHT SPELL END FOR WEAVER.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

The Dodgers continued to shape their rotation Wednesday, acquiring right-hander Jae Seo from the New York Mets in a four-player deal.

In the process, they likely closed the book on Jeff Weaver's career in Los Angeles while losing Duaner Sanchez, one of their top young relief pitchers.

Seo, a 28-year old South Korean, comes to the Dodgers from the Mets along with left-handed reliever Tim Hamulack. In exchange, the Dodgers sent Sanchez and fellow reliever Steve Schmoll to New York.

Seo went 8-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 14 starts with the Mets in 2005, including a 4-0 record and a 1.75 ERA in August. Much like recent free agent signing Bret Tomko, Seo is the type of durable pitcher Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti prefers. Seo threw more than 200 innings last season while splitting time between New York and Triple-A Norfolk.

``This gives us a little more depth in the starting rotation,'' Colletti said. ``I think we have a rotation now that's capable of throwing 180 innings, 200, 210 through all five starters. He's a durable, hardworking, very determined pitcher. He's not going to overwhelm you, but he knows how to pitch.''

Seo joins a rotation that includes Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, Odalis Perez and Tomko, and though Colletti is on the lookout for at least one other starting pitcher, he expressed doubts it will be Weaver, who won 14 games for the Dodgers but is an unsigned free agent.

Colletti spoke Tuesday with Weaver's agent, Scott Boras, and reported no progress on contract talks.

``We have a difference of opinion and philosophy,'' Colletti said. And unless we find some common ground, that (situation) may pass us by.''

The deal for Seo came together after the Mets and Devil Rays couldn't agree on a trade that would have sent Seo to Tampa for Danys Baez. Colletti had been in contact with Mets GM Omar Minaya almost every day for the past two weeks. When talks between the Mets and Devil Rays broke off, Minaya and Colletti quickly closed their deal.

``Omar felt he needed help in the bullpen and I felt we needed help in the rotation,'' Colletti said.

In Sanchez, the Mets are getting a 26-year old right-hander who was 4-7 with a 3.73 ERA in 79 games for the Dodgers in 2005. He ranked tied for second in the National League in appearances and after assuming the closer's role in August converted all eight of his save opportunities through the remainder of the season.

Sanchez is expected to serve as the Mets' top setup man this coming year.

``It was tough giving him up (Sanchez and Schmoll),'' Colletti said. ``I've watched both of them from the other side.''

Hamulack, 29, is a career minor-leaguer, spending 10 seasons in the minors before making it to the big leagues for the first time last season. The Mets purchased his contract Sept. 1 and he made his debut the next day against Florida, retiring the only batter he faced, Carlos Delgado.

Colletti expects Hamulack to compete for a role in the bullpen as a left-handed specialist.

Schmoll, 25, went 2-2 with a 5.01 ERA with three saves in 48 appearances last year. Schmoll also spent time at Triple-A Las Vegas and compiled a 0-3 record and 4.78 ERA with five saves in 22 games.

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com