Lieberthal is ready for blue

Like pitcher Randy Wolf, catcher Mike Lieberthal is a Philadelphia Phillie who grew up in Southern California.

And like the left-handed starter whose one-year contract with the Dodgers became official Tuesday, Lieberthal wants to play at Chavez Ravine.

Multiple sources said the 13-year veteran would be happy to serve as backup to Russell Martin, and the interest is reciprocated by the Dodgers. However, a deal is contingent on two conditions.

First, the Friday deadline for teams to offer arbitration to their free agents must pass without the Phillies making an offer to Lieberthal, who has made $7.25 million to $7.5 million each of the last four years. If arbitration is offered, another team signing him must give the Phillies a high draft pick, something the Dodgers are not interested in doing.

Second, Lieberthal must pass a physical, which for a catcher who will turn 35 in January and who missed 95 games last season because of an assortment of injuries, is hardly perfunctory. He sat out because of a strained left hip and a sore back, and had surgery to repair an injured stomach muscle in early October. However, he has resumed working out and is feeling good.

Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti would not comment on negotiations with Lieberthal, who is believed to be seeking a one-year deal for about $1 million with an option for a second year. Lieberthal, who attended Westlake Village Westlake High, has spent his career with the Phillies and is a two-time All-Star, batting .275 with 150 home runs.

One high-level baseball source said the Phillies are unlikely to offer Lieberthal arbitration because if he accepted it, he could be awarded a salary in the neighborhood of $4 million. Also, there is reason to believe the Phillies wouldn’t stand in the way of the popular catcher coming home to L.A. if that’s what he wants to do.

The Dodgers are trying to trade their current backup catcher, Toby Hall, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at midseason and made $2.25 million. Hall is eligible for arbitration, but the Dodgers probably would not offer him a contract before the Dec. 12 deadline, at which time he would become a free agent.

Lieberthal would join Wolf, his teammate of the last eight years. Wolf signed a one-year, $7.5-million contract with a vesting option for another year at $9 million based on 180 innings pitched. The Dodgers also could exercise the option even if Wolf doesn’t pitch the requisite innings, and there is a $500,000 buyout.

Left-handed reliever Matt White, who was 0-2 with a 16.76 earned-run average in seven major league games, signed a minor league contract and will be invited to spring training.

*

The Dodgers will unveil new uniforms with players’ names on the back today at a news conference. Owner Frank McCourt took the names off the uniforms before the 2005 season in a desire to stress a team approach.