NATIONAL LEAGUE: INSIDE THE N.L.: ROLEN-PHILLIES SPLIT IMMINENT.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Florida's Cliff Floyd is at the top of the list when it comes to big-name position players likely changing teams before the July 31 trading deadline. But Philadelphia's Scott Rolen is a close second.

Rolen's tumultuous tenure in Philadelphia will end after this season, but it should be beneficial to he and the Phillies if it ends within the next month.

The New York Mets have shown interest in Rolen, baseball sources said, and Rolen has shown interest in getting out of Philadelphia quicker than you can say ``Pat's Cheesesteaks.''

Rolen missed his first game of the season last week with an ankle injury, is getting booed and ridiculed regularly by the sometimes-unfair Philadelphia fans and his play is showing it. Rolen is batting .237 with 10 homers and 39 RBI.

``It is tough,'' Rolen said. ``You have a job to do and you try to focus mentally and you try to lock in. But from time to time, it seems easier to do that on the road lately. Maybe subconsciously it's bothering me. Consciously, I go out and try to do the best job I can. Subconsciously, maybe I can't.''

The Phillies tried to peddle Rolen to most clubs during the offseason - including trying to entice the Dodgers to trade third baseman Adrian Beltre - but were unsuccessful. Since Rolen rejected a 10-year, $140 million contract because he didn't like the direction of the club, he's been on the trading block.

There also is the hate-hate relationship between Rolen and manager Larry Bowa that's played out regularly for the public.

The matter hasn't been helped by the Phillies' disappointing season. A year ago they challenged Atlanta for the National League East title, but this year they are mired in last place at 31-39.

--Hampton gets another shot: Colorado left-hander Mike Hampton won't become baseball's highest paid reliever. Not just yet.

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle saw enough in Hampton's five-inning, seven-run performance Wednesday against the New York Yankees at Coors Field to keep him in the starting rotation. That means the Dodgers get a shot at Hampton on Monday.

``His focus was good again (Wednesday) night,'' Hurdle said. ``You didn't see that frustration, that outward emotion, we saw in Toronto and some of the other earlier starts when he didn't pitch well. I know it's a result-oriented industry. But I think sometimes you've got to lose a couple battles to win a war. And I'm not so sure that's not the situation with him right now.''

Hampton is in the second year of an eight-year, $123.8 million contract. He is 3-8 with a 7.07 ERA, and his ERA is 8.55 on the road and 5.36 in Colorado. Since signing the deal, Hampton is 17-21 with a 5.89 ERA.

--Looking overseas: With the amateur draft over and teams all but done scrambling to sign most of their draft picks, the focus will be on international scouting for the next few months. Many organizations, including the Dodgers and Seattle, will traverse the Pacific Ocean to get an extended look at Yomiuri Giants center fielder Hideki Matsui, who could be one of the top free agents in next year's class.

Matsui, 28, is a top power hitter in Japan. He averaged 40 homers and 102 RBI and batted .318 in the past three seasons, but some scouts who've seen him play believe he is more of a corner outfielder than a center fielder. He's batting .313 with 13 homers and 34 RBI this season for the Giants.

Matsui could command bigger money than Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki or the Dodgers' Kazuhisa Ishii, who signed for $14.5 million and $12.3 million, respectively. He will be a true free agent, meaning clubs won't have to submit a blind bid to Yomiuri to win negotiating rights.

CAPTION(S):

2 boxes

Box:

(1) WHAT'S ON

(2) AROUND THE HORN