Claire Still Shopping for a Center Fielder : Dodgers: A deal could clear way for Samuel to move to second base.

Less than two months after naming Juan Samuel as their center fielder of the future, the Dodgers are talking as though he may not even be their center fielder for the coming season.

Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, confirmed Monday that he has recently talked to other clubs about center fielders. Such an acquisition would grant Samuel his wish to move back to his natural position at second base, requiring that Willie Randolph either be traded or benched.

“As of today, we are counting on Juan as our center fielder; we feel good about him there,” Claire said. “But have we had conversations about center fielders with other teams? Yes, we’ve had conversations.”

A highly placed National League source said Claire was recently refused on an offer of pitcher John Wetteland to Philadelphia for center fielder Lenny Dykstra. Claire would not comment on the report but acknowledged that despite several off-season acquisitions, he is still trying to improve the club.

“Yes, we have a center fielder who I feel very good about, but does that mean that I would never talk about the position with somebody? No,” Claire said. “There will be a time later in the spring when we must worry about defining roles, but that time is not yet here. Now is the time to keep looking and searching.”

Besides Dykstra, other available outfielders who might interest the Dodgers include Houston’s Gerald Young, Pittsburgh’s Barry Bonds, St. Louis’ Vince Coleman or Willie McGee and Oakland’s Stan Javier.

Two days after he was traded to the Dodgers by the New York Mets for Mike Marshall and Alejandro Pena in December, he voiced disappointment that the Dodgers were referring to him as their center fielder. Last season was Samuel’s first as an outfielder after six as a second baseman.

“I will do what the Dodgers want,” Samuel said when traded. “I will help them any way I can, but . . . the main thing for me has been to play second base.”

Since then, Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda has convinced Samuel, who was criticized for his erratic center-field play last season, to give the position another chance. Samuel has been working daily in the Dominican Republic with Dodger coach Manny Mota. Claire said he has been satisfied with the progress reports.

“I feel good about everything I’m hearing,” Claire said. “Manny has been going over things in depth with Juan that he may have overlooked last year, because it is hard to teach a guy during the middle of the season. I am satisfied, and Tommy is satisfied, that he can be our center fielder.”

Where another trade would leave Randolph is uncertain. He could become a pinch-hitter and late-inning defensive replacement, although he has said he wouldn’t be happy. He could also be traded for a left-handed reliever. Claire acknowledged that he has received several calls about Randolph’s availability. The Oakland Athletics, who lost Tony Phillips to the Detroit Tigers through free agency, reportedly are among those interested, and they might offer pitcher Curt Young.

Randolph, whose .282 average last season was the fourth highest in his 14-year career and complemented outstanding fielding, said he worried.

“I go shopping, and people stop me and tell me I’m going to Oakland,” Randolph said earlier this winter. “But that’s fine. I’ve got too much confidence to worry about where I’m going to be.

“After last year, moving all the way to L.A., nothing can be as hard as that. We’ve taken that pill once; we would do it again.”

Dodger Notes

The Dodgers shortened their list of potential arbitration cases to two Monday by signing relief pitcher Ray Searage to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal worth $342,500. Searage, who earned $140,000 in 1989, was seeking $385,000, while the club was offering $300,000. Searage, who was 3-4 with a 3.53 ERA last season, will enter spring training as the club’s left-handed setup man for stopper Jay Howell.

Look for the Dodgers to sign utility player Franklin Stubbs before his Saturday arbitration date, leaving only outfielder Kal Daniels on the docket. He has a Feb. 15 arbitration date. The Dodgers are offering $550,000, while Daniels is seeking $700,000.

The Dodgers’ triple-A Albuquerque team has signed Anaheim native Glen Hoffman. The infielder hit .212 in 48 games for the Angels last season. He played for the Dodgers in 1987, hitting .220 in 40 games. . . . Dodger triple-A pitching prospect Jeff Fischer underwent arthroscopic surgery Friday to remove fragments of cartilage from his shoulder, meaning he will spend most of the spring in rehabilitation. Fischer gave up five runs in 3 1/3 innings for the Dodgers last season and was not a leading candidate to make the big league club. . . . Pete Arbogast, USC football and basketball announcer for KNX Radio, will be the new Dodger Stadium public address announcer. He will replace Nick Nixon, who resigned after last season because of his increased duties as an announcer for the Kings.