Brown Is Open to a Trade

Pitcher Kevin Brown’s desire to play for an East Coast team has further complicated an already difficult off-season for Dodger General Manager Dan Evans, who might trade the All-Star right-hander to the New York Yankees, team sources said Tuesday.

Agent Scott Boras recently informed Evans that Brown wants to play for a team closer to his off-season home in Macon, Ga., the sources said, saying Brown would waive his no-trade clause to join the American League champions.

The Brown bombshell comes on the heels of Evans coming up short in his aggressive attempts to acquire first basemen Derrek Lee or Richie Sexson. There is growing concern within the organization about Evans’ inability, to this point, to upgrade an offense that last season scored 17 fewer runs than the Detroit Tigers.

Evans declined to comment on his discussions with Boras, speaking only generally about other teams’ interest in Dodger pitchers.

“We’re approached on a daily basis about our players, and there is a lot of interest in our pitchers,” he said. “There’s always an exchange of information, and names are discussed, which is just the business of baseball in the off-season. But that doesn’t mean that something will lead to a deal.”

Boras also spoke cautiously.

“Kevin Brown is a Dodger and he has every intention of fulfilling his contract,” Boras said. “I’m not going to comment on anything that has to do with Kevin and his future with the Dodgers, because he is under contract.

“All I will say is that if an opportunity presented itself, the only way he would consider waiving his no-trade clause would be because of his family. With the age of his children being where they’re at, and the fact that anyone who knows Kevin knows how important his wife and children are to him and how difficult it is for him to be away from them during the season, that’s the only way he would consider something like that.”

Brown, team sources said, decided at the end of last season to approach the Dodgers about being closer to his wife, Candace, and their three sons, Ridge, Grayson and Dawson. But Brown, who helped Florida win the 1997 World Series title, also wants another shot at a championship, and the Dodgers last qualified for the playoffs in 1996.

Brown, however, has not demanded a trade, the sources said, which he has the right to do as a player with at least 10 seasons in the major leagues and five with one team.

The Dodgers would be interested in filling a need and clearing more payroll to make a run at Japanese shortstop Kazuo Matsui and other free agents, but Brown would have to approve any trade.

Although Brown turns 39 in March, has had a recent history of major injuries and is owed $30 million over the next two seasons, the Yankees are eager to acquire the Dodger ace because of their heated arms race with the rival Boston Red Sox. With the Red Sox having added Curt Schilling to a rotation that also includes three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez, the Yankees want to bolster their staff with another successful veteran starter, and Brown is high on their list.

The Yankees are so interested in Brown, a source close to the situation said, that owner George Steinbrenner has instructed General Manager Brian Cashman to work out a deal with the Dodgers.

The Yankees, apparently aware of Brown’s stance regarding his future, have offered beleaguered 27-year-old right-hander Jeff Weaver. But the Dodgers won’t trade Brown for Weaver straight up, two team executives said.

Brown reverted to form in 2003 after consecutive injury-plagued seasons, going 14-9 and finishing second in the National League with a 2.39 earned-run average. The six-time All-Star had 185 strikeouts in 211 innings.

Weaver, a Simi Valley resident, was 7-9 with a 5.99 ERA. He was bumped from the rotation in early June, making only one start after Aug. 18.

Other teams said the Dodgers are willing to trade some pitching, and they have holes to fill at first base and in left field. The Dodgers have inquired about the availability of Yankee All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano and first baseman Nick Johnson, though some in the organization have concerns about Johnson’s ability to hit for power at Dodger Stadium.

“Everyone knows that we’re very strong in pitching, but we’re not going to deviate from our philosophy,” Evans said. “We’re not going to trade one of our starters unless we fill a need, and that’s all there is to it.”

Brown is scheduled to receive $15 million in 2004 and 2005, the final guaranteed seasons of a $105-million contract that also includes the use of a private jet, which the Dodgers provided to address Brown’s concerns about playing for a team so far from his family’s home.

Weaver is owed $6.25 million next season and at least $9.25 million in 2005. He has been a target of fans’ anger at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees are working to rebuild a rotation that will be without six-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, who retired, and possibly free-agent left-handers Andy Pettitte and David Wells. The Yankees are among several teams negotiating with Pettitte, and also are reportedly interested in signing free-agent starter Bartolo Colon, or trading for Montreal right-hander Javier Vazquez if he becomes available.