Davis Takes a Pay Cut : Dodgers: He is guaranteed $1 million after earning $3.1 million last season. Incentives could add $1 million.

Saying he has some unfinished business with the Dodgers, left fielder Eric Davis signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract Tuesday that guarantees him $1 million and could earn him as much as $2 million.

Davis, who made $3.1 million last season, played in a career-low 76 games between stints on the disabled list, when he was sidelined because of injuries to his shoulder and wrist--conditions he attributed to his aggressive play. Now, he says it’s time for him to change.

“I’m at the point now where I have to make some adjustments in my style of play, “ said Davis, 30.

“I have never had to alter how I played. I always played for the organization, never for myself. But now I have to start thinking about myself. Not to sound selfish, but I have to think about keeping myself in the lineup and not being out every three weeks or so.�

Davis can earn a bonus for each day he is on the roster, which adds up to the additional $1 million over the 162-game season. Davis’ contract also allows him to become a free agent next year.

“I feel great (about signing),� Davis said. “I came (to the Dodgers) for a reason, and I want to see it through.�

The Dodgers got Davis from the Cincinnati Reds in November of 1991 for Tim Belcher and John Wetteland. He batted .228 with five home runs and 32 runs batted in before ending his season Aug. 23, when he separated his left shoulder.

He had surgery on Sept. 17 to repair a broken left wrist, a torn ligament in a shoulder and to remove a bone chip from a hand. He said he has been in therapy for a month and is ready to start working out.

The Dodgers’ signing of Davis clears up speculation about their starting outfield, but not the question marks. Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said that with Davis in left, Brett Butler in center and Darryl Strawberry in right field, the club would be naive if it didn’t have concerns.

Strawberry, who played in only 43 games last season because of a bad back, also underwent surgery near the end of the season for a herniated disk. Davis said that Strawberry has also been in therapy and is coming along fine.

“When you have two players coming off of surgery, yes, there is some concern,� Claire said. “But again, you have to make those judgments as far as the talent that you have and that’s what we’ve done. But we would be kidding ourselves to say we are not following the progress as far as rehab and the conditioning of the players.�

Claire said that even though the starting outfield is in place, the complete roster is not set.

“We are still talking with (outfielder) Mitch Webster, so nothing is resolved there,� Claire said.

� . . . The two primary areas we need to address is the bullpen . . . primarily the determination of a closer, and the other one is to see if we can improve ourselves with a possible move at third base.�

Two weeks ago, the Dodgers traded for Boston Red Sox second baseman Jody Reed and have since reportedly made an offer to free agent Cory Snyder as a possible third baseman. Snyder, who has played third base, has played the outfield during most of his seven-year major league career and could be used as a backup. Claire said there has been no progress in negotiations with Snyder.

The Dodgers are also talking with free-agent relief pitcher Todd Worrell. But Claire said the Dodgers are not in the market for big-money free agents, such as Barry Bonds, although they will continue to look around.

Claire said that the club’s biggest strength is its starting pitching. Of the club’s remaining eight free agents, only right-hander Jim Gott was offered arbitration, and although there is talk about making him the closer, Claire said there has been no decision.

Besides Webster, free agents are catcher Mike Scioscia, pitchers Roger McDowell, Jay Howell, John Candelaria and Bob Ojeda, and utility infielder Dave Anderson. The Dodgers have until next Monday to either sign their free agents or offer them arbitration. If they do neither, they cannot sign them until May 1.