The Dodger outfield is getting crowded.
Los Angeles reached an agreement with free agent Hubie Brooks on Thursday, a day after acquiring Juan Samuel from the New York Mets.On Wednesday, Manager Tom Lasorda was gloating about his probable outfield for 1990 - Kal Daniels in left, Samuel in center and Kirk Gibson in right.
Lasorda wasn't around Thursday to discuss what he will do with Brooks, who played right field for Montreal the past two seasons after being shifted from third base.
"The main thing is to have Hubie's bat and glove in the lineup," Dodgers vice president Fred Claire said, answering a question about how much Brooks might play in right field.
"As we looked over our club, we needed to add some right-handed hitting. We have a couple of players coming off injuries (Gibson and Daniels) and we'll see what develops in spring training."
The 33-year-old Brooks, who hit .268 with 14 home runs and 70 RBIs with Montreal last season, said he would prefer to play right field. He added that he had grown comfortable there over the past two years and thought he would be even better at the position in 1990.
Brooks, who said earlier in the week that he did not intend to return to Montreal, agreed to a $6 million, three-year contract with the Dodgers that calls for a $950,000 signing bonus, $1.15 million next season and $2 million in each of the following two years.
There's also a no-trade clause that prevents Los Angeles from sending Brooks back to Montreal or to any American League team other than the California Angels.
"I think the time was right for me to come west," said Brooks, a native of Los Angeles who has a home about 20 minutes from Dodger Stadium. "I never thought I would get a chance to come back home and play. Since I am older, that chance was just about over.
"My goal, which I probably won't reach, is to play 162 games," said Brooks, grinning at Claire.
The previous day, the Dodgers dealt right fielder Mike Marshall and reliever Alejandro Pena to the Mets for Samuel.
Like Samuel, Brooks was shifted two seasons ago from the infield to the outfield. Each is a former All-Star who has been slipping, and each is prone to striking out - Samuel struck out 120 times last year, Brooks 108.
"With the addition of Juan Samuel and Hubie, we've really strengthened our offense," Claire said. "We were vulnerable to left-handed pitching; Hubie hits all pitching."
The Dodgers were last in the major leagues with 554 runs last season. Only St. Louis hit fewer home runs than Los Angeles' 89 and the Dodgers' .240 average was 10th among the 12 National League teams.
Brooks is a .276 lifetime hitter with 103 homers and 609 RBIs in 10 seasons. He began his career with the New York Mets in 1980 and was traded to the Expos in December 1984 in a deal that sent Gary Carter to the Mets.
Brooks is the fourth free agent to leave the Expos in recent days.