BASEBALL : DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Karros Gets Three-Year Deal

In another indication of the Dodgers’ commitment to youth, Eric Karros agreed to a three-year contract worth $6.15 million Thursday night in Vero Beach, Fla. Karros, who will be playing his third season as the team’s first baseman, will make $650,000 this season, $2.35 million in 1995 and $3.15 million in 1996. As part of the contract, Karros is funding a full baseball scholarship at UCLA.

“I’m very excited about it,” Karros said. “I don’t have to worry about my contract coming in each spring and, more importantly, it shows the direction the club is going with younger players.”

The Dodgers had never offered a multi-year contract to a player with less than three years of service time until earlier this month, when they signed Mike Piazza to a three-year, $4.2 million contract. Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said that besides being able to buy out two years of arbitration--players are eligible after three years--the club is sending a message to their younger players.

“It shows a commitment to the young players on this team that if they step forward and do the job, they will be rewarded,” Claire said.

Karros, 26, struggled some last season, but hit 12 home runs the last two months to finish with 23 homers, 80 runs batted in and a .247 average.

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Jose Offerman took a pitch on his left foot in the batting cage Thursday, and laughed about it later in the clubhouse at Vero Beach. Offerman, who will begin his third season as the Dodgers’ shortstop, has been smiling a lot this spring, joking with teammates and feeling more comfortable than in the past.

During the winter, he bulked up through a weightlifting program, increasing his weight 25 pounds to 190. But another noticeable change in Offerman this spring is his willingness to talk to the media and discuss his defensive play.

“It was the first year I have really lifted, and I feel good,” Offerman said. “I played winter ball again for a while and I played real well, (my defense) is a lot better than last year. I think my experience has helped me play better.”

Offerman, whose errors at shortstop have made him the target of relentless criticism, said he worked hard on throwing during the winter. “I am throwing better, that was one of the points I had to work on and I really feel better about it right now,” he said. “I think my experience has made me feel more confident.”

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Right-handed pitcher Greg Hansell’s locker was moved into the corner next to that of Piazza’s--the two are good friends--but it’s still on what he calls “Death Row,” where lockers for the rookies on the 40-man roster are placed. Hansell, from Kennedy High in La Palma, made some minor adjustments in winter ball while working with Luis Tiant and Joe Ferguson, and compiled a 4-3 record with a 2.19 earned-run average. . . . Dodger scout Gail Henley has been named the 1993 recipient of the Milton Richman Memorial Award by the Assn. of Professional Baseball Players of America, a group that helps former players who have fallen on hard times. The award is presented annually to honor those who have contributed to its success and have spread the good will of the association. . . . Sandy Koufax was a visitor at Dodgertown Thursday. . . . Tom Candiotti is helping to form the Knucklehead Club. Proceeds from the club will benefit the Orthopaedic Hospital in Los Angeles. . . . Park Chan Ho threw batting practice in the cages because the workout was rained out. “He threw hard--the ball is lively with a fluid delivery,” Dave Hansen said.