The ninth inning at Dodger Stadium could be Trevor Time this year.
As the San Francisco Giants consider trumping the Dodgers' offer to Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers have offered all-time save leader Trevor Hoffman a one-year contract to be their closer.
The Milwaukee Brewers also are in pursuit of Hoffman, who is expected to make his decision this week. It is uncertain whether the Brewers have offered a two-year guarantee to combat their geographical disadvantage, since Hoffman lives in northern San Diego county.
"He's got three young boys, so he could go home a lot more if he signs with Los Angeles," Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "That's what free agency allows a player to do -- pick where it's best suited for him to play."
Hoffman made $7.5 million last season with the San Diego Padres, who withdrew a $4-million offer to him in November. The Dodgers' offer exceeds $4 million.
Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti declined to comment. Rick Thurman, the agent for Hoffman, did not return two messages from The Times.
Hoffman, 41, earned all but two of his 554 saves for the Padres. He grew up in Orange County, and his father was a longtime usher at what was then called Anaheim Stadium.
He went 3-6 with a 3.77 earned-run average last season, including a 1.59 ERA after the All-Star break. He converted 30 of 34 saves but gave up one home run every 5.7 innings, the second-worst ratio of his career.
By signing Hoffman, the Dodgers would return Jonathan Broxton to a setup role and add a veteran arm to a bullpen that has lost Takashi Saito, Joe Beimel and Chan Ho Park.
Meanwhile, with the Dodgers and Ramirez in the third month of a contract stalemate, the rival Giants are considering whether to extend him a three-year offer, according to a baseball source familiar with their thinking.
The Giants had no interest in Ramirez until recently, the source said, but the signings of shortstop Edgar Renteria and pitchers Randy Johnson, Jeremy Affeldt and Bobby Howry persuaded them they might be one big bat away from winning a weakened National League West.
They are content with an outfield of Fred Lewis, Aaron Rowand and Randy Winn, but Ramirez plays left field.
"It's actually not what we're looking for," San Francisco General Manager Brian Sabean told XM Radio, "except that he's such a profound middle-of-the-order hitter, which we need."
