WITHERED WISH LIST? DODGERS AWAITING A-ROD RESOLUTION BEFORE NEXT MOVE.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

A few days ago, the Dodgers viewed Chicago White Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez as a fallback option, in case they were unable to pry Nomar Garciaparra from the Boston Red Sox.

Now there's a strong chance neither player is headed to Los Angeles.

Something of a doomsday scenario played out Wednesday for the Dodgers, who learned their top two targets, Garciaparra and Ordonez, might be traded for each other in an offshoot of the Alex Rodriguez-Manny Ramirez saga.

In desperate search of a middle-of-the-order threat, sources said the Dodgers have cast an eye toward trades involving Houston outfielder Richard Hidalgo and Tampa Bay infielder Aubrey Huff in case their worst-case scenario comes to fruition.

It will all become clearer by 3 p.m. this afternoon, which is the deadline commissioner Bud Selig established for the Rodriguez-Ramirez trade to be completed.

Dodgers general manager Dan Evans certainly would be an interested observer since the fate of that trade will have a significant impact on the Dodgers' success this offseason.

In the past month, Evans has held separate talks with Boston GM Theo Epstein and White Sox GM Ken Williams and at one point was involved in three-way talks that would send Garciaparra to the Dodgers and Ordonez to the Red Sox.

But sources said those talks stalled because of Evans' reluctance to meet the White Sox's demands of pitchers Odalis Perez, Greg Miller and Guillermo Mota, so it seems Epstein and Williams decided to continue talks without Evans. Evans has been reluctant to deal top prospects Miller, Edwin Jackson, Joel Hanrahan and Franklin Gutierrez.

Dodgers sources said Evans has not stopped negotiating for Garciaparra or Ordonez. According to broadcast reports, the Garciaparra-Ordonez deal had been agreed upon, contingent on the Rodriguez-Ramirez trade going through, but there are many complications.

On Wednesday, the players' union rejected Boston's proposed changes to Rodriguez's contract, putting the Rodriguez-Ramirez trade in doubt after the two teams agreed on the player swap.

The teams had reached an agreement, but union official Gene Orza said the re-negotiating of Rodriguez's contract does not favor the player, as required, and called it more of a reduction and a restructuring.

``We did suggest an offer the (Red Sox) could make to Alex that would not do that, but as was its right, the club chose not to make it,'' Orza said in a written statement.

The trade still could happen, especially since Selig is considering approving it despite union objections. But if it doesn't, it's highly doubtful the Garciaparra-Ordonez deal would go through since the Red Sox view Ordonez as a replacement for Ramirez.

That would be best for the Dodgers. The Red Sox don't believe they can sign Garciaparra to a contract extension, and he wants to play on the West Coast. The White Sox are looking to cut payroll and Ordonez ($14 million in 2004) is a prime candidate.

Even if the two trades not involving the Dodgers take place, they might not be out of the market for Garciaparra.

Trading for Garciaparra doesn't make much sense for the White Sox, who already have a young shortstop they like in Juan Uribe. Also, the trade is rumored to include Boston reliever Scott Williamson, so the White Sox wouldn't be saving money.

More likely, the White Sox would acquire Garciaparra and quickly trade him. The Dodgers would remain the top candidates, and with Williamson on board Chicago might ease its demand for Mota.

The Dodgers and Devil Rays had discussions at the winter meetings involving Huff, but Tampa Bay GM Chuck LaMar is believed to have asked for Jackson, and both sides quickly dismissed the talks. A source said Wednesday, however, that the Dodgers might turn back to Huff.

Houston is willing to deal Hidalgo because of his $14 million salary in 2004, and the Dodgers reportedly also have talked to Cincinnati about Adam Dunn or Austin Kearns, though those are considered longer shots.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

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The continuing saga of Alex Rodriguez might be settled today by the commissioner's office. Until then, the Dodgers must wait to make any moves to improve their roster.

John Bazemore/Associated Press

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