NEED FOR SPEED FILLED HOLLANDSWORTH DEALT FOR ROCKIES' GOODWIN.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH - During the past two years, most Dodgers trades have been salary dumps. On Monday, just hours before the trading deadline, it was more of the same.

Only this time it was the Colorado Rockies, not the Dodgers, getting out of a potentially bad contract by sending center fielder Tom Goodwin to L.A. Goodwin, an ex-Dodger, steps into the leadoff spot to fill a gaping hole at the top of the batting order - perhaps for the next few years.

In return, the Dodgers sent disgruntled outfielder Todd Hollandsworth, the 1996 Rookie of the Year, and minor-leaguers Kevin Gibbs and Randey Dorame to the Rockies.

Goodwin, 32, signed through the 2002 season, is scheduled to arrive this afternoon and will start in center field in at least one game of the doubleheader today against Pittsburgh. He'll play the majority of games in center field and bat leadoff, giving the Dodgers the table setter they've been searching for since trading Eric Young in December.

But Goodwin's arrival will also leave Devon White, who's guaranteed $5 million next season, as an expensive fourth outfielder if the club is unable to trade him in the offseason.

It's the Dodgers' second move in a five-day span. Last week they acquired right-hander Ismael Valdes from the Chicago Cubs for two mino-leaguers when the Cubs decided to dump salary.

``We're definitely better because we didn't have this kind of base stealer, this kind of speed, and he's a plus defender in the outfield,'' said Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone, who signed White to the three-year deal after the 1998 season. ``It changes the complexion of our club, that one guy. He puts pressure on the defense.''

Goodwin signed a three-year, $10.75 million free-agent contract in December with the Rockies that pays him $3.25 million annually. He received a $500,000 signing bonus and there's a $500,000 buyout on the club option for 2003, which is $3.5 million. The Rockies agreed to pay $300,000 of Goodwin's salary this season, baseball officials said.

But as a player traded in the middle of a multiyear deal, Goodwin can demand a trade after the season. The Dodgers have not addressed that subject with him.

``We didn't ask because we didn't want to make any conditions,'' Dodgers managing general partner and CEO Bob Daly said. ``I think we want to play out this year. (Goodwin) seems to be excited coming to the Dodgers. If he ever decides he doesn't want to be a Dodger, then we'll trade him because I don't want anyone here that doesn't want to be a Dodger. This isn't like we gave up 12 players to get Jeff Shaw.''

Goodwin, bothered by leg problems at times this season, is second in the National League in stolen bases with 39. The Dodgers have 56 as a team.

Goodwin's batting .271 with four homers and 47 RBI, has a .368 on-base percentage and has scored 65 runs. The Dodgers' leadoff spot had a .317 on-base percentage, ranking 13th in the league.

``I was shocked,'' said Goodwin, who played 103 games for the Dodgers from 1991-93. ``That's the way it goes in this game. I'm not down on the team or anything. I'm just going to go to Los Angeles to do the best I can. I am a little cloudy. It's not that I don't understand the move because it's a business and things like this happen, but I am a little shocked.''

Malone said he was able to make both trades without giving up any of the organization's best prospects, which at times severely hampered negotiations. Hollandsworth badly wanted out of Los Angeles, the oft-injured Gibbs missed most of the last three seasons and while Dorame was the California League pitcher of the year last season, the club projects him as a fourth or fifth starter.

Hollandsworth, a free agent after the season, batted .259 with eight homers and 21 RBI from the leadoff spot, but the club was displeased with his performance while White missed 2 1/2 months because of a shoulder injury. Hollandsworth had a .338 on-base percentage.

``I think they gave (Hollandsworth) enough opportunities to show if he can play every day, and that's all you can ask for as a player,'' Dodgers left fielder Gary Sheffield said. ``He had his opportunities to play and he didn't make the most of it and they weren't happy with the way he played. You give a different guys chances, so they bring in a different guy and give him an opportunity.''

The acquisition bumps to Dodgers' payroll to $98 million since baseball calculates payroll totals based on the entire salary of a player. However, the Dodgers will pay out $92 million this season.

Though Goodwin gives the Dodgers a prototypical leadoff hitter, there's a reason the Rockies wanted to dump him. He missed two months last season in Texas with a hip flexor, and after a great start with the Rockies, he's been terrible lately.

Goodwin hit .123 (9 for 73) in July as his average fell to .271. He hit .342 and scored 41 runs at Coors Field but batted .208 with 24 runs scored in 19 more at-bats on the road. His on-base percentage was .429 and .313, respectively.

The Rockies also dropped Goodwin from the leadoff spot to No. 8 on Saturday, and benched him Sunday.

``I think speed at the top always makes you look like you're feeling good,'' Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. ``He gets on there and starts running around, then (pitchers) are paying more attention to him than (the batter), and he can go get them in the outfield.'' SWAPPING SPOTS

Tom Goodwin

AVG: .271

OBP: .368

SB: 39

Todd Hollandsworth

AVG: .234

OBP: .314

SB: 11

UP FRONT

Todd Hollandsworth's statistics as leadoff hitter for the Dodgers this season: .259 avg. (52 of 201), 36 R, 11 2B, 8 HR, 21 RBI, 8 SB, .338 OBP

ROAD WOES

Tom Goodwin is batting a decent .271 this season. However, he's had success strictly at Coors Field in Denver: He's batting .342 at home, .208 on the road.

GOODBYE TODD, HELLO TOM

CAREER STATISTICS

TODD HOLLANDSWORTH

Team Year AB H R HR RBI SB AVG OBP

L.A. 1995 103 24 16 5 13 2 .233 .304

L.A. 1996 478 139 64 12 59 21 .291 .348

L.A. 1997 296 73 39 431 5 .247 .286

L.A. 1998 175 47 23 3 20 4 .269 .308

L.A. 1999 261 74 39 9 32 5 .284 .345

L.A. 2000 261 61 42 8 241 11 .234 .314

Totals 1,574 418 223 41 179 48 .266 .323

TOM GOODWIN

Team Year AB H R HR RBI SB AVG OBP

LA 1991 7 1 3 0 0 1 .143 .143

LA 1992 73 17 15 0 3 7 .274 .291

LA 1993 17 5 6 0 1 1 .294 .333

KC 1994 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000

KC 1995 480 138 72 4 28 50 .288 .346

KC 1996 524 148 80 1 35 66 .282 .334

KC-TEX 1997 574 149 90 2 39 50 .260 .314

TEX 1998 520 151 102 2 33 38 .290 .378

TEX 1999 405 105 63 3 33 39 .259 .324

COL 2000 317 86 65 5 47 39 .271 .368

Totals 2,919 800 496 17 219 291 .274 .341

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 2 boxes

Photo: (1 -- color) Tom Goodwin, aquired by L.A. Monday, brings speed at the top of the order

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

(2) Todd Hollandsworth had his chances in L.A. Now he moves to Colorado

John Hayes/Associated Press

(3 -- color) Tom Goodwin

(4 -- color) Todd Hollandsworth

Box: (1) Swapping Spots (see text) (2) Goodbye Todd, Hello Tom (see text)