Grissom Leaves for the Giants

The Dodger makeover continued Friday as free-agent outfielder Marquis Grissom became the latest player to leave in a week of big changes, agreeing to a multiyear contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Grissom, the Dodgers’ most productive backup last season, accepted a two-year offer for about $4.5 million, a baseball official said, becoming the third key veteran to move on. On Wednesday, first baseman Eric Karros and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek were traded to the Chicago Cubs, and $2 million in cash, for catcher Todd Hundley and outfielder Chad Hermansen.

One of the most popular players in the clubhouse, Grissom played in 111 games, batting .277 with 17 home runs and 60 RBIs.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers will not offer salary arbitration to their other free agents by today’s deadline, meaning left-hander Omar Daal and infielders Dave Hansen and Tyler Houston probably won’t return next season. The club also sold the contracts of right-hander Kevin Beirne and left-hander Jeff Williams to Japanese teams for about $1 million.

General Manager Dan Evans declined comment, but sources said the Dodgers had already decided to let Hansen and Houston leave, and a clause in Daal’s contract prohibits them from offering arbitration.

The Dodgers could re-sign Daal, Hansen and Houston in May, but Evans is exploring other options to improve the club and develop more roster and payroll flexibility. If the Dodgers had offered arbitration, they would have only received draft picks as compensation for Daal and Houston because of how free agents are classified under the collective bargaining agreement.

Daal, acquired in November 2001 from Philadelphia, was 11-9 with a 3.90 earned-run average while splitting time in the rotation and bullpen. Hansen, the Dodgers’ career leader in pinch-hits, batted .292, but only .185 as a pinch-hitter. Houston, acquired from Milwaukee in July, batted .200 for the Dodgers.

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The Angels all but severed ties with reserve outfielders Orlando Palmeiro and Alex Ochoa, announcing the team would forfeit negotiating rights to the players by not offering them salary arbitration.

General Manager Bill Stoneman said he has offered Palmeiro a contract but neither he nor Barry Praver, the agent for Palmeiro, would say whether it included a pay cut from his $1-million salary this year.

The Angels plan to fill one of the backup outfield spots with an inexpensive free agent and have rookies Robb Quinlan, Barry Wesson and Nathan Haynes compete for the other.

Meanwhile, Scott Boras, who represents pitcher Scott Schoeneweis, confirmed that he has asked the Angels for a trade so the left-hander can resume his career as a starter.

The Angels do not plan to honor that request. Schoeneweis is their only proven left-handed reliever and the cost of replacing him could be prohibitive. Schoeneweis, who made $325,000 last season, is eligible for salary arbitration but not free agency.

-- Bill Shaikin

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Randy Burden, a minor league pitcher for the Angels, died in his sleep Thursday night . He was 23. Burden, who pitched for the team’s rookie league team in Provo, Utah, was found dead at his home in Suffolk, Va. The cause of death was not determined.