Spring training site
Vero Beach, Fla.
2007 record
82-80, fourth in NL West, eight games behind Diamondbacks
New faces
C Gary Bennett (free agent, Cardinals); CF Andruw Jones (free agent, Braves); RHP Hiroki Kuroda (free agent, Japan)
Biggest offseason acquisition
Kuroda, 33, is getting more than $10 million per season to be a big part of the rotation, and he'll probably face some adjustment issues. Jones will try to reclaim star status in L.A., a year after hitting just .222, it's hard to remember that this is a guy who hit 51 homers in 2005 and 41 in 2006. His track record says he'll bounce back, and he's won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves in center field. And he'll turn 31 in April. But their biggest acquisition might have been new manager Joe Torre, who gave the organization a bolt of energy.
Gone but not forgotten
Several veterans who were in Los Angeles for a short time (Luis Gonzalez, Randy Wolf, David Wells) are elsewhere, and no player of much long-term consequence left the organization.
Spring training battles
Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier will have to share time in the outfield, with Kemp probably getting more of a shot because of his power potential. He could be a star if he stays healthy. And there are a couple of spots in the bullpen, and the Dodgers are hoping Jason Schmidt is healthy enough to hold down the No. 5 starter role.
Projected lineup
- SS Rafael Furcal
- LF Juan Pierre
- CF Andruw Jones
- 2B Jeff Kent
- RF Matt Kemp/Andre Ethier
- 1B James Loney
- C Russell Martin
- 3B Nomar Garciaparra
- Pitcher
Projected starting rotation
- RHP Brad Penny
- RHP Derek Lowe
- RHP Hiroki Kuroda
- RHP Chad Billingsley
- RHP Esteban Loaiza/RHP Jason Schmidt
Projected bullpen
- RHP Takashi Saito (closer)
- RHP Jonathan Broxton
- RHP Scott Proctor
- LHP Joe Beimel
- RHP Yhency Brazoban
- LHP Hong-Chih Kuo
- RHP Rudy Seanez
Biggest strength
Nomar Garciaparra isn't what he used to be, but batting in the No. 8 hole? Now that's a strong lineup, rivaling Colorado's in a strong NL West. If Loney and Kemp live up to their potential and Jones bounces back, this team could be a championship darkhorse.
Glaring weakness
Lowe is on the back end of his career and the No. 5 spot is wide open, and Kuroda is unproven against major-league hitters. They're not a bad group by any means, and Penny is a solid No. 1, an All-Star. But if there's a weakness, that's it.
