REPORT: DODGERS TALKING TO GIRARDI.

Byline: TONY JACKSON Staff Writer

Although an Internet report on Thursday indicated the Dodgers might be pursuing former Florida manager Joe Girardi as a replacement for Grady Little, there seemed to be little evidence to support the story. However, that doesn't necessarily mean Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti isn't talking to Girardi about another position with the organization.

ESPN.com reported that Girardi, one of three candidates for the New York Yankees' managerial opening, "could have a developing opportunity with the ... Dodgers."

The other candidates for the Yankees' job are Don Mattingly and Tony Pena.

Colletti said during the season's final week that Little will return in 2008, and owner Frank McCourt reiterated on the season's final day that both Colletti and Little will be back.

Girardi, fired a year ago despite being named National League Manager of the Year in his only season at the Marlins' helm, has been available all season. If the Dodgers were planning on hiring him to manage the club, it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't begin their pursuit until now, almost a month after the Dodgers completed a disappointing 82-80 season and finished fourth in the National League West.

Colletti didn't return repeated phone messages left on both his office and cell phones.

Steve Mandel, Girardi's Chicago-based agent, didn't return a message left on his cell phone. The ESPN story said Mandel declined to comment.

"Grady Little is our manager," said Camille Johnston, the Dodgers' senior vice president for communications, who emphasized that she had no knowledge of the situation.

Colletti was the media relations director for the Chicago Cubs when Girardi reached the majors with that club as a catcher in 1989.

The Dodgers also have been widely rumored to be interested in former Yankees manager Joe Torre, but Torre recently spurned a one-year, $5 million offer to remain with the Yankees. The Dodgers, who are believed to be paying Little between $600,000-$650,000 a year on a contract that runs through next season and carries a club option for 2009, aren't going to pay a manager anything close to what Torre turned down.

Stadium hopping: Two industry sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Thursday that if a proposed two-game exhibition series March 14-15 in Beijing, China, actually takes place, the Dodgers will be one of the clubs involved. But several issues must still be resolved, including whether the Dodgers, who likely wouldn't return to Vero Beach, Fla., from China for the rest of spring training, want to make an early exit in what is expected to be their final spring there after 61 years.

MLB.com reported Thursday that San Diego is the Dodgers' likely opponent for the China games, quoting Padres owner John Moores as saying: "That is what I expect."

Meanwhile, Johnston confirmed a widespread report that the club is considering moving a home game to the Coliseum next season as part of its year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers' move from Brooklyn. What Johnston didn't say, but what is abundantly clear, is that it would have to be a late-spring exhibition because Major League Baseball would never approve a regular-season game in a stadium that doesn't come close to meeting the league's standard field dimensions.

The Dodgers played at the Coliseum from 1958-61 while Dodger Stadium was under construction.

Because the left-field foul pole was just 250 feet away, a 42-foot screen had to be installed to cut down on cheap home runs.

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