GM MEETINGS: DODGERS GM LISTENS TO OFFERS FOR PITCHERS EVANS' OPTIONS INCLUDE TRADING PEREZ, MOTA.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

PHOENIX - A strong pitching staff carried the Dodgers to the brink of the playoffs last season, and now it might be helping general manager Dan Evans strengthen the team's offense for 2004.

Evans worked well into the evening Wednesday, on the third day of the general managers' meetings, and starting pitcher Odalis Perez has become a focal point of any trade Evans might make during the winter.

The Dodgers are entertaining offers for reliever Guillermo Mota, a successful setup man in 2003 who is seen as a strong candidate to become a closer in the near future, and there could be suitors for the pair.

The strongest rumors so far have involved St. Louis outfielder Jim Edmonds, but Edmonds is a left-handed-hitting center fielder, while the Dodgers primarily are coveting a right-handed corner outfielder in addition to a first baseman.

An emerging, and intriguing, option for the Dodgers is Chicago White Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez, who will make $14 million in the final season of his contract and is unlikely to re-sign with Chicago.

Ordonez is a consistent .300 hitter and 30-homer threat, but if the cost for him is too steep, the Dodgers also have been in discussion with the White Sox about outfielder Carlos Lee.

Lee put up numbers similar to Ordonez's last season, made $4.2 million and is two years younger. He's eligible for arbitration this winter.

Perez is a likely trade option not only because of his potential - he won 15 games in 2002 and 12 this year - but because of the way he alienated Dodgers players and management during two incidents this past season. Perez is arbitration-eligible and could be expendable because of the development of rookie Edwin Jackson.

Evans said that he won't rule out the inclusion of minor-league prospects in potential deals, something he was hesitant to do as the trade deadline approached in the middle of the season.

Jackson, who impressed team management with a successful September, and Greg Miller are two pitching prospects that would appear untouchable. But Evans has succeeded in rebuilding the Dodgers' farm system to the point where he could entertain thoughts of trading prospects.

Should the Dodgers not find a match on the trade market for an outfielder, they would turn to the free agents, with Shannon Stewart and Raul Ibanez, whom Evans has shown past interest in, as candidates.

--Big day? The National League Cy Young Award winner will be announced this morning, with Dodgers closer Eric Gagne presumed to be the favorite.

Gagne converted all 55 save chances in 2003 and extended a consecutive- save streak to 63 dating back to 2002.

Atlanta's Russ Ortiz (Montclair Prep of Panorama City) and John Smoltz, Chicago's Mark Prior (USC) and San Francisco's Jason Schmidt also are top candidates.

--Around the leagues: The Dodgers have serious interest in Milwaukee first baseman Richie Sexson, but Arizona has been the front-runner since talks began. The Diamondbacks are looking to cut payroll and might need to make other moves first.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com