Team May Be Near Deal With Shortstop Vizcaino

The Dodgers are close to reaching a three-year contract agreement with free-agent shortstop Jose Vizcaino, sources said Sunday night.

“There’s nothing done at this point and that’s all I can say,” Dodger Executive Vice President Fred Claire said.

Asked if something could be done soon, Claire added, “possibly.”

Sources said an announcement could come as soon as today.

Vizcaino is expected to receive a package similar to the $9 million that former Colorado Rockie shortstop Walt Weiss recently received as a free agent from the Atlanta Braves.

One of the last stumbling blocks was lifted Sunday night when the San Francisco Giants, Vizcaino’s former team, did not offer arbitration to the 29-year-old veteran before the 9 p.m. deadline.

That means the Dodgers would not owe the Giants an amateur draft pick as compensation and it also means Vizcaino cannot be re-signed by the Giants until May 1.

Vizcaino would replace Greg Gagne as the Dodger shortstop in what would be a homecoming. The Dodgers signed Vizcaino out of the Dominican Republic in 1986 and traded him to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Greg Smith in 1990.