MEETINGS START QUIETLY FOR DODGERS DEALS FOR RAMIREZ, SCHMIDT UNLIKELY.

Byline: TONY JACKSON  Staff Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Dodgers' search for a middle-of-the-order hitter continued on the first full day of baseball's winter meetings after little was accomplished during a wee-hours meeting with Boston officials that centered on slugging Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez.

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, who is precluded by baseball's anti-tampering rules from mentioning Ramirez by name, stopped short of saying a ``hypothetical'' deal with the Red Sox was dead. But, at best, it appears to be on life support, with one well-placed source calling it, ``highly unlikely.''

One player the Dodgers might turn to instead is Luis Gonzalez, the veteran left fielder and free agent whom Arizona chose not to re-sign. Colletti said he continues to have discussions with Gregg Clifton, the Phoenix-based agent who rep resents both Gonzalez and free-agent left-hander Mark Mulder, in whom the Dodgers also have interest.

Gonzalez, 39, is no longer a power hitter on the level of Ramirez. But he has hit as many as 57 homers in a season (2001) and he hit 52 doubles for the Diamondbacks in 2006 while posting a .352on-base percentage and striking out just 58 times in 586 at-bats. He also is a player who is very comfortable in the National League West, having spent the past eight of his 17 major-league seasons with the Diamondbacks.

``He is somebody we're talking to, sure,'' Colletti said.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers' search for another starting pitcher is moving slowly and doesn't appear close to ending.

Free-agent right-hander Jason Schmidt is believed to be at the top of the club's wish list, but all indications are Schmidt will attempt to drive up his asking price by waiting as long as possible to sign. That might be a deal-breaker for the Dodgers, who are hoping to sign a starting pitcher quickly. Doing so would allow them to possibly trade a starter for a hitter if they can't sign one as a free agent.

``Our talks (with Schmidt) have been conversational,'' Colletti said. ``It's just finding out what their thought process is. He has been really quiet. I have had conversations with other agents about other players that are farther along than the ones I have had with (Schmidt). I think that is indicative of (Schmidt's) sense of timing.

``I'm an impatient kind of guy. I would like to know what we have and what we need.''

Mulder is another option, but there are concerns about his health.

``It's not real strong, but he is somebody we have talked about,'' Colletti said.

The Dodgers' willingness to re-sign free-agent right-hander and future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux appears to be dwindling because, for now, the price is too high.

``We're pretty far apart,'' Colletti said.

In return for Ramirez, the Red Sox are believed to be seeking a package of several of the Dodgers' top prospects, most of whom the Dodgers' are extremely reluctant to part with. There are reports the Red Sox want reliever Jonathan Broxton and some combination of infielder James Loney, outfielder Matt Kemp and infielder Andy LaRoche, all of whom have long been coveted prospects in a deep Dodgers farm system that is expected to bear fruit in the next year or two.

Ramirez has a no-trade clause and two years left on an eight-year, $168 million contract that runs through 2008 and is extremely complex. There was one report Ramirez would insist the $20 million options for 2009 and 2010 be exercised before he would waive his no-trade rights, something that would make the rest of the deal worth about $79 million over four seasons.

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