Search for Lasorda’s Successor Has Organization’s Attention

From the front office to the clubhouse, the Dodgers are focused on the search for a new general manager.

Longtime officials are looking to team President Bob Graziano for votes of confidence, and players also are wondering about their job security. Tom Lasorda’s successor is expected to lead the franchise into the next millennium, and many believe the newcomer will be busy.

“So much has happened this season, from all of the trades to the changes at the top,” third baseman Bobby Bonilla said. “We’ve had an incredible amount of turnover, so you need to have someone come in and just settle everything down.

“A lot of people here [in the organization] don’t really know who’s running things, or what’s going to happen next. It’s very difficult for anyone to work like that. That’s why you have to have somebody who’s clearly the guy in charge, and then you let that guy work.”

Graziano interviewed assistant general manager Dean Taylor of the Atlanta Braves on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. Lasorda is expected to meet with Taylor in Atlanta this weekend.

Florida owner H. Wayne Huizenga granted permission for the Dodgers to speak with Dave Dombrowski and Gary Hughes, the Marlins’ general manager and vice president of player personnel, respectively. Lasorda is expected to interview Dombrowski today.

Dombrowski, who earns between $700,000 and $750,000 annually, is among the game’s most respected and highest-paid general managers. He would prefer to remain in South Florida, but might leave because of the Marlins’ unsettled ownership situation.

Dombrowski, 41, declined to discuss the Dodger situation and his future in general this week.

“He’s been a very successful man in his position,” Lasorda said. “He’s a bright, young executive who has done a great job over the years.

“But by the same token, he might not want to leave. You don’t even know if he wants the job.”

Jim Bowden, general manager of the Cincinnati Reds, and Kevin Malone, assistant general manager of the Baltimore Orioles, are the other high-profile candidates at the moment. Charlie Blaney, Dodger vice president of minor league operations, also wants the job.

The new Dodger player-personnel boss will have significant input in reshaping the baseball operation’s staff, which has fueled speculation--from within the organization and throughout baseball--that holdovers from the O’Malley era are on their way out.

“Our focus is on hiring the best general manager available,” Graziano said. “No decisions on ‘sweeping’ front-office changes have been made.

“We will let that individual [Lasorda’s successor] make evaluations and recommendations on how to strengthen the baseball operations.”

Lasorda is Graziano’s point man for the search. Graziano is relying heavily on Lasorda’s advice--but this is Graziano’s show.

“Tommy will have input, Peter [O’Malley] will have input and Fox [Group officials], will have input,” Graziano said. “But ultimately, I’ll make the decision.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (10-7, 4.04 ERA) vs. MARLINS’ LIVAN HERNANDEZ (10-8, 4.38 ERA)

Pro Player Stadium, 4 p.m. PDT

TV--Channel 5. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--Park is coming off successive losses at home after winning 11 decisions in a row at Dodger Stadium over two seasons. Hernandez is third in the National League with seven complete games.