Damon is not on LA's list

Johnny Damon told Channel 4's Dan Roche last night he had spent the day on the West Coast, but if he was hinting that he'd met with the Dodgers, it didn't happen, according to a National League source.

And while new Dodgers manager Grady Little said he made a phone call to Damon, the Dodgers have much greater interest in Damon's former Sox teammate, Nomar Garciaparra, the source said, and are not involved in negotiations for the Red Sox center fielder and aren't likely to enter the bidding.

Damon, speaking by cellphone to Roche, said while returning to the Red Sox remained his first choice, there was a ''good chance" he would be leaving the team. Damon said there were three teams in the bidding, and while he did not identify the other teams besides the Red Sox, he told Roche there was a chance he could be reunited with Garciaparra on either the Yankees or Dodgers.

''We're still talking," Damon said in the interview. ''I should know in the next couple of days."

But as of last night, the Sox have made the only known offer to Damon. That was back in Dallas during the winter meetings, when CEO Larry Lucchino presented Damon's agent, Scott Boras, with a four-year, $40 million offer, well below the seven-year, $84 million deal Boras is believed to be seeking. Although Lucchino has maintained the Sox and Boras have continued regular contact, one Red Sox source indicated last night that Boras has yet to respond to the club's offer.

The Yankees reportedly have interest in Damon -- manager Joe Torre revealed this week he called Damon -- but general manager Brian Cashman has maintained publicly the team is prepared to begin next season with Bubba Crosby in center field.

Former Sox reliever Mike Myers, who recently signed a free agent deal with the Yankees, told Newsday that Damon has a ''strong interest" in playing for the Yankees.

''I've talked to him and he does have a strong interest in playing there," Myers said. ''So hopefully, contract-wise, everything will get worked out."

The Sox continue to work on contingency plans, with the team source indicating talks with the Mariners for center fielder Jeremy Reed have intensified. The Sox have proposed trading Matt Clement for Reed; the Mariners have asked for Bronson Arroyo. The Sox have also talked with the Cleveland Indians about switch-hitting outfielder Coco Crisp; the Indians also would like Arroyo.

Little recruiting

Think Little wants a little familiarity around him in Los Angeles?

He has spoken to Damon, talks frequently with Garciaparra, and the Dodgers acquired third baseman Bill Mueller Wednesday.

''First and foremost, we want winning players," Little said yesterday from his home in North Carolina. ''We've expressed our interest in Johnny and for Nomar and we'd love to have them on our team because they would make our team better. I've managed them in the past and they were a joy to manage. Billy Mueller won a batting title for me in Boston, and he's still an excellent third baseman. He's great on a ball club."

Garciaparra, a free agent, may make his decision soon, with the Indians and the Yankees in the hunt with the Dodgers.

Skipper on deck

Terry Francona has been told that the team will discuss a new contract extension with him once the dust settles on the front-office situation and player moves. ''It's certainly something I would welcome," said Francona, who is rehabilitating from knee replacement surgery. ''I enjoy working in this environment." And Francona has been in contact with Damon. ''Johnny knows how I feel," Francona said. ''He knows what I think of him and how much I'd love for him to come back to us." . . . Red Sox sources say the team might still be interested in Tampa Bay shortstop Julio Lugo, though the Sox are pursuing free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez . . . The Red Sox offered righthander Rudy Seanez a one-year deal, said Coordinated Sports Management Group president Alan Nero. Nero said the Red Sox have inquired about catcher John Flaherty, though the Sox recently signed veteran Ken Huckaby to a minor league deal. ''John would welcome a return to Boston," Nero said. ''He's had experience catching knuckleballer Steve Sparks."

Rocket launcher

Randy Hendricks, who represents Roger Clemens, said he believes the Red Sox are very serious about his client, ''and we would seriously listen to them," Hendricks said yesterday. ''What we are telling the interested teams is the same: First, Roger has leaned toward retirement; if he had to decide today, he would retire. Having said that, he has agreed to take more time to decide, especially since he very much wants to play for the US in the World Baseball Classic. The concerns Roger has are these: Will his body make it through an entire season; he doesn't want his career to end on a bad note . . . if he did play, how would that fit into his family situation, meaning his desire to spend a lot of time with his boys as they compete in sports, etc. So we have kicked around the idea of a partial season as a compromise."