LOS ANGELES -- History shows that there is rarely a storybook ending for Dodgers heroes.

Duke Snider was sold to the Mets. Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale broke down in their early 30s and retired. Don Sutton, Steve Garvey and Orel Hershiser left as free agents, with Sutton and Hershiser returning for farewells as 40-somethings. Fernando Valenzuela was released. Mike Piazza was traded to Florida.

Now, what becomes of closer Eric Gagne, the most popular Dodger since Piazza and Fernando?

Or is it Eric Gagne, former Dodger? Is it game over for Game Over?

Nobody seems to know, including the people responsible for deciding, and that includes Gagne himself. After missing much of the past two seasons following two elbow operations and one on his back, he reports feeling "unbelievably good." He began throwing Tuesday and vows a healthy return.

"I'm just focusing on getting healthy and getting back to the mound," Gagne said over the Thanksgiving weekend. "I'm focusing on that and nothing else. I'm anxious to know if I'll be in L.A. or not. I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know their direction. A lot of the decision is up to the Dodgers. They've signed some good guys the past two years, and they're going in the right direction. But I don't know if I'm in their plans or not."