FLOYD WON'T STAY IN BOSTON CAN DODGERS TOP ORIOLES' OFFER?

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The Dodgers received a reprieve in the Cliff Floyd derby Thursday night when he declined salary arbitration from the Boston Red Sox, thus leaving him on the free-agent market. But there might be a new leader in the race to sign him.

Though the Dodgers offered a three-year deal worth approximately $16 million, Baltimore offered the outfielder a contract for the same length but about $3 million more, which could sway Floyd to go with the Orioles, sources said Thursday.

Baltimore entered a late play for Floyd after the Yankees locked up Japanese free agent outfielder Hideki Matsui with a three-year, $21 million deal late Wednesday.

As the Dodgers try to remain in the running for Floyd, they also are aggressively targeting free-agent first baseman Fred McGriff. Team officials talked numerous times to McGriff's agent, Jim Krivacs.

``I think we have to consider ourselves in the running for every player we''ve talked about,'' Dodgers general manager Dan Evans said. ``You never rule anybody out until you're told you're out of the running. We haven't been told that.''

Floyd's decision to decline salary arbitration with Boston gives Evans more time to perhaps make a trade to clear more payroll and eventually increase his offer. By declining salary arbitration, Floyd cam still negotiate with Boston until Jan. 8, though that is an unlikely destination.

``It's pretty clear to us that Cliff's going to go in another direction,'' general manager Theo Epstein told the Associated Press shortly after the midnight deadline for Floyd to make a decision.

Sam Levinson, who represents Floyd with Brother Seth Levinson, added: ``Clearly, it was in Cliff's best interests, for numerous reasons, to reject arbitration.''

``If Cliff Floyd is going to play here it's going to be because he really wants to play here'' said Evans, inferring any potential contract offer was below market price. ``We don't have the room some people are (stating) we have. We just don't have that much money to work with.``

Floyd, who batted .288 with 28 homers and 79 RBI in 2002, turned down a three-year, $24 million from Boston this offseason but is looking for similar money. Evans repeatedly said the Dodgers won't cross the $117 million luxury-tax threshold, leaving Evans with little maneuverability to work a deal with Floyd unless payroll is trimmed.

Evans tried to trade starting pitcher Andy Ashby at the winter meetings but found no club willing to absorb the right-hander's $8 million contract, particularly with an $8.5 million option vesting if he pitches 170 innings.

Evans also is exploring other ways to trim payroll and increase his offer to Floyd, sources said, but he is hesitant to trade infielder Alex Cora and reliever Giovanni Carrara. Such a move could save $3 million.

Even with Baltimore's offer considerably higher, Evans said he hasn't been told the Dodgers are out of contention for Floyd.

Evans and assistant general manager Kim Ng continued to speak with agents and other clubs about free-agent deals and possible trades, but Evans said finding a bat for the lineup is the first order of business. The Dodgers held numerous conversations with Floyd's agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, and McGriff's agent.

Krivacs said McGriff remains interested in signing with the Dodgers. A week ago, Krivacs said McGriff was willing to sign a one-year deal within the Dodgers' budget, $4.5 million to $5 million, and that remained the same.

However, Krivacs added other teams were interested in McGriff, who has averaged 30 homers and 100 RBI the past four seasons. A few other options opened for the Dodgers, though none appear as attractive as Floyd or McGriff.

Today is the deadline for teams to tender contracts to players eligible for salary arbitration.

--Notes: The Dodgers also are in the market for a manager at Triple-A Las Vegas after Brad Mills agreed to be Frank Robinson's bench coach in Montreal. Mills was the Pacific Coast League manager of the year. Dodgers director of player personnel Bill Bavasi said the club would look inside the organization for a replacement.