GAME OVER FOR GAGNE DODGERS DECLINE OPTION ON CLOSER.

Byline: TONY JACKSON  Staff Writer

The Dodgers declined the $12 million contract option for 2007 on Eric Gagne on Friday. The veteran right-hander and one-time closer will file for free agency in the coming days, and there is a strong chance his time with the club is over.

The Dodgers will pay a $1 million buyout.

Gagne set a major-league record that might never be broken by converting 84 consecutive save opportunities from late in the 2002 season through early 2004 and became the game's most feared closer.

But after signing a two-year, $19 million contract to avoid arbitration two winters ago, Gagne was plagued by a series of injuries that included two elbow surgeries and a back surgery during the past two seasons. He made a total of 16 appearances over the life of the contract and posted ninesaves.

Gagne is represented by Los Angeles-based agent Scott Boras, a notorious hardball negotiator. But Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said the club is ``absolutely'' open to negotiating with Boras to re-sign Gagne -- even if it isn't entirely clear where Gagne would fi,t given that the Dodgers already have a reliable closer in Takashi Saito.

``We weren't going to pick up a $12 million option,'' Colletti said. ``That's all this (move) is about.''

Still, given Gagne's recent health concerns, most clubs will be hesitant to give him anything more than a one-year deal until he proves he can stay injury-free over the long haul. That could play in the Dodgers' favor, especially since Gagne has never been employed by any other major- league organization in his 11 professional seasons.

Gagne had a $10 million salary in 2006, a figure he probably won't come close to in 2007, no matter where he signs.

More Gold: Dodgers pitcher Greg Maddux, who filed for free agency on Tuesday, won his 16th National League Gold Glove award, tying pitcher Jim Kaat for the most by any player at any position in major-league history.

Maddux, who has 333 career victories and is a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer, didn't commit an error in his 21st major-league season. He flawlessly handled 66 chances for the Chicago Cubs and Dodgers, who acquired him from the Cubs on July 31.

Maddux, 40, also is represented by Boras. But he lives in Las Vegas and, assuming he doesn't retire this winter, probably would be more amenable to pitching for a West Coast club.

Maddux just completed a three-year, $24 million contract he signed with the Cubs before the 2004 season and had a $9 million salary last season. The Dodgers got 12 starts out of him -- during which he went 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA, for the relatively bargain price of $1million -- after getting him from the Cubs for another former Gold Glove winner in shortstop Cesar Izturis.

Search continues: Dodgers player development director DeJon Watson entered the weekend still looking for both a minor-league field coordinator and someone to manage the club's Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate. Watson said the managerial search had been whittled to three finalists, whom he declined to identify, and that he hoped to have someone in place by early next week. Watson said the field coordinator search will take longer.

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(1 -- color) GANGE

(2) The Dodgers' Greg Maddux didn't commit an error in 66 chances in the 2006 season.

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