Dodgers: Manny Ramirez rests

CINCINNATI -- Manny Ramirez is out of the Dodgers' lineup today, as Manager Joe Torre said the former All-Star outfielder looks tired.

"I think his legs are a little heavy right now," Torre said. "I think it's from playing every day. He had spring training, then he was gone for 50 games, close to two months. I don't care how much you're doing, you need another spring training, and he didn't have that."

Torre wanted to rest either Rafael Furcal or Orlando Hudson today but opted to play them both because of how they looked in the Dodgers' win on Saturday.

In other news, Torre said that there's a strong possibility that Hiroki Kuroda could pitch on Tuesday for Class-A Inland Empire.

Here's the Dodgers' lineup:

Rafael Furcal SS

Juan Pierre LF

Andre Ethier RF

Matt Kemp CF

Casey Blake 3B

James Loney 1B

Russell Martin C

Orlando Hudson 2B

Clayton Kershaw P

-- Dylan Hernandez

Photo: Manny Ramirez takes a break during batting practice at Dodger Stadium earlier this season. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times

Dodgers: Thursday pregame notes

PHOENIX -- There's still no sign of Manny Ramirez, who remains in negotiations with the Dodgers, according to his agent, Scott Boras.

The Dodgers today will visit the only other team that has publicly acknowledged its interest in Ramirez, the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers will take batting practice here at Camelback Ranch before heading out to Scottsdale for the 12:05 p.m. PST game.

Manager Joe Torre will field a lineup that includes shortstop Rafael Furcal and second baseman Orlando Hudson. Torre spoke on Wednesday about the importance of letting them spend as much time together as possible, saying they'll start again on Friday against the Seattle Mariners and be given days off on Saturday.

Russell Martin will catch today in what could be his only game behind the plate before leaving to join Canada's World Baseball Classic team on Sunday.
Utility infielder Mark Loretta will get a look at first base. Torre said that Loretta could be a right-handed option to spell James Loney on days the Dodgers face a left-handed pitcher.

Randy Wolf will start. Other pitchers making the trip today include Jonathan Broxton, Guillermo Mota, Eric Stults and Jeff Weaver.

Matt Cain will pitch for the Giants.

Here's the Dodgers' lineup:

SS Rafael Furcal

2B Orlando Hudson

C Russell Martin

1B Mark Loretta

3B Blake DeWitt

LF Delwyn Young

CF Jason Repko

RF Xavier Paul

DH Tony Abreu

P Randy Wolf

-- Dylan Hernandez

Dodgers: Wednesday spring training notes

Some highlights from Manager Joe Torre's morning chat with reporters today:

• On the Dodgers' final trip of the season to Arizona last year, Torre and his coaches called in the team's core group of young players to convey their belief in them and tell them that they were the foundation of the franchise. Taking part in the meeting were Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney and Jonathan Broxton. Chad Billingsley was excluded because he was starting that day. Torre said that in the wake of the departure of several key veterans, players from the group will have to start emerging as clubhouse leaders.
• Torre reiterated that 2010 will be his last year managing.
• Cory Wade received a cortisone injection in his shoulder and will be shut down for a few days. Wade was placed on the disabled list last year because of shoulder trouble but Torre said he didn't think his latest issue would be a significant problem because it was treated early.
• Injury-prone reliever Hong-Chih Kuo will be closely monitored this spring. Torre doesn't think he has to pitch many innings in the exhibition season to get ready for Opening Day.
• The Dodgers will hold their first full workout on Thursday. Rafael Furcal wasn't seen in the clubhouse this morning.

General Manager Ned Colletti said he's still talking to Manny Ramirez's agent, Scott Boras. Colletti also said that the Dodgers have had talks with the representatives of free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson. "Right now, I have [financial] flexibility," Colletti said.

Visit latimes.com/sports for more on the Dodgers.

-- Dylan Hernandez

Photo: Dodgers manager Joe Torre at spring training in Glendale, Ariz. Credit: Morry Gash / Associated Press

Chipper Jones a July fit for Dodgers or Angels?

You've heard this story from the Dodgers and Angels in many previous summers, and you'll probably hear it from them again this summer: We'd like to trade for a big bat.

How about Chipper Jones? The idea was floated by none other than Jones himself, in a revealing interview today with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Jones, incensed that the Braves did not match the Red Sox offer for franchise icon John Smoltz, said he might be the next one out the Atlanta door:

"This is my last year under contract with Atlanta. And this last 24 hours certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by me. I haven’t been offered an extension. If we’re 15 games out in July or August, I doubt they’re just going to let me become a free agent and get nothing in return."

The six-time All-Star said he has yet to hear from the Braves this winter about a contract extension. In the meantime, the Braves have missed out on A.J. Burnett, Rafael Furcal, Jake Peavy and now Smoltz.

"I’ve just been chalking it up to the Braves have bigger fish to fry. But it seems like somebody keeps coming along and eating all our fish."

The Braves traded Mark Teixeira to the Angels last July, with the Angels sending Casey Kotchman -- a young first baseman to replace Teixeira -- and a minor league relief pitcher in return. The comparable position player for the Angels this time would be third baseman Brandon Wood, but the Angels had Kendry Morales and Mark Trumbo lined up behind Kotchman at first base. The line at third base has yet to form.

-- Bill Shaikin

Photo: In this scene from 2002, Chipper Jones, left, shared a laugh with John Smoltz, who had just collected his 48th save of the year. Credit: Ryan Remiorz / Associated Press

Baseball's winter leagues aren't only for the players

Baseball's winter leagues aren't a testing ground for players only. Agents, too, use the four Caribbean leagues as a place to prove themselves.

Take South Florida-based agent Scott Shapiro, who has helped negotiate contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars for such clients as Carlos Zambrano, Carlos Silva and Jose Hernandez.

"Winter ball's been great for me," he says. "A lot of what I did was just meeting a lot of people in the Dominican. I had some really good relationships with managers and general managers and so had access to meet a lot of the guys in winter ball."

That helped him forge deals with former Dodgers Mariano Duncan and Wilson Betemit, the New York Yankees' Robinson Cano and others. He once introduced himself to former Angel pitcher Matt Perisho when both found themselves in the same Santo Domingo hotel one winter. Perisho asked Shapiro to represent him, then later introduced Shapiro to teammate Carl Pavano, for whom Shapiro would later negotiate a $39-million contract with the Yankees.

Partly because of geography, however, Shapiro has dedicated much of his business to helping Latin players.

"The Dominican Republic is like our backyard," says Shapiro, who even got married on the island. "It's almost an extension of South Florida. There's a different impact when you go down to their country and they know you're there. That you know the culture, [and are] willing to meeting their families, know where they live, understand what life is like at home.

"A lot of what I've learned over the years is to be there for these guys beyond what a typical agent would do."

Speaking of the Dominican, the league's four-team round-robin playoffs opened the day after Christmas with La Romana's Azucareros del Este, second during the regular season, winning three of their first four games. The defending league champion Aguilas Cibaenas, meanwhile, entered today winless in three games. Aguilas has received virtually no support from the big guns in its offense with Andruw Jones managing just a single in six at-bats, Rafael Furcal going 2 for 8 and outfielder Victor Diaz, who set regular-season records with 17 homers and 50 RBI, sitting out the first three games.

Jones, who had a awful debut season with the Dodgers, batting .158 with 76 strikeouts in 75 games, is hitting .182 with nine strikeouts in 22 winter league at-bats.

The Angels' Kendry Morales, who returned to the Gigantes' lineup just before the Christmas break, finishing the regular season hitting .404 with eight homers and 29 RBI in

Terms of Rafael Furcal's new contract with the Dodgers

By maintaining a core strengthening program, Rafael Furcal can earn an additional $1 million annually in "conditioning" bonuses over the lifetime of his new three-year, $30-million contract with the Dodgers.

Furcal will earn $6.5 million next season, $8.5 million in 2010 and $12 million in 2011. The contract includes a $3-million signing bonus that will be paid when the contract expires.

A $12-million club option for 2012 will vest if Furcal makes 600 plate appearances in 2011. If Furcal makes 625 plate appearances that season, he will have the choice of voiding the option.

If Furcal makes 1,600 plate appearances in the first three years, the Dodgers would have to pay him $1.3 million if they fail to exercise his option. If Furcal reaches 1,600 plate appearances from 2009-2011 and gets his option picked up, $1.3 million will be added to his base salary in 2012.

Furcal is contractually obligated to donate $100,000 per year to the Dodgers Dream Foundation.

-- Dylan Hernandez

Photo: Rafael Furcal. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Andruw Jones' cold summer followed by cold winter

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Depending on whom you believe, Dodger outfielder Andruw Jones is either in Curacao or Atlanta for the holidays and is either returning this weekend or not for the Dominican League playoffs.

Dominican newspaper carried the conflicting reports Monday. Luis Garcia, who works for Jones' agent Scott Boras, says half of the information is right: Jones is in Atlanta and is planning to return for the playoffs.

What there can be no doubt about, however, is that Jones' performance so far this winter has been no better than his performance last summer, when he hit just .158 and struck out 76 times in 75 games.

Playing for Aguilas Cibaenas, Jones is hitting .188 through five games with three singles and eight strikeouts in 16 at-bats. Jones has twice struck out three times in a game and has yet to collect more hits than strikeouts in the same game.

Jones, who has $22.1 million left on his Dodgers contracts, was overweight when he reported to his first spring training with the team last February. He seems to be in better shape physically, but his swing hasn't improved. He has said he'd like to get 40 winter league at-bats and then hopes to play for the Netherlands -- he was born on the Dutch-held island of Curacao -- in the World Baseball Classic this March.

Former Atlanta Braves and current Dodger teammate Rafael Furcal, who helped persuade Jones to come to the Dominican, got off to a better start in his winter league debut with Aguilas, going 2 for 5 in the final game of the regular season. Aguilas, the defending league champion, opens the round-robin playoffs after Christmas, joining Gigantes, the regular-season winner, Azucareros and Licey, the defending Caribbean champion.

"The Gigantes figure to get a playoff boost from the return of Angel slugger Kendrys Morales, who is hitting .404 despite having sat out most of December, while Licey has gotten a great spring from Angel shortstop Erick Aybar, who ended the regular season fifth in the league in hitting at .348. But the MVP of the regular season was Aguilas' outfielder/DH Victor Diaz, a major league free agent, who shattered the Dominican record with 17 home runs and became the first native player in league

Rafael Furcal re-signs with the Dodgers

Rafael Furcal passed his physical today, finalizing his three-year, $30-million contract with the Dodgers.

“You can’t overestimate Raffy’s value to the team,” Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said in a statement released by the club. “He brings so much more to the table than just his ability to play the game. The players feed off his energy and I think he’s an integral piece of the puzzle. I look forward to having that leadership in a Dodger uniform for the next several years.”

Furcal, 31, will earn $6.5 million next season, $9.5 million in 2010 and $12 million in 2011. If he makes 600 plate appearances in 2011, his $12-million option for 2012 will become guaranteed.

Furcal will receive a $3-million signing bonus when the contract expires.

Here's the Dodgers' press release:

The National League West Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers today signed shortstop Rafael Furcal to a three-year contract with a vesting option for the 2012 season.  General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.

“Raffy has proven to be a very important player for us over the last three seasons,” said Colletti.  “He sets a great example with his enthusiasm and passion for the game and his teammates.”

“You can’t overestimate Raffy’s value to the team,” said Dodger Manager Joe Torre. “He brings so much more to the table than just his ability to play the game.  The players feed off his energy and I think he’s an integral piece of the puzzle.  I look forward to having that leadership in a Dodger uniform for the next several years.”

Furcal in 2008 was among several offensive leaders prior to going on the disabled list on May 6 because of an injured lower back.  Furcal led the majors with 49 hits and 34 runs scored at the time he went on the DL.  He also ranked second in the majors at that time with a .366 average and third with a .448 on-base percentage.  The switch-hitter returned to the club during the final week of the regular season, and went on to start at shortstop in each of the Dodgers’ eight postseason games.  Furcal had undergone back surgery on July 3, a microdiscectomy performed by Dr. Robert Watkins at Marina del Rey Hospital.

-- Dylan Hernandez

Photo: Rafael Furcal tags out the Phillies' Jayson Werth at second base during Game 5 of the NLCS on Oct. 15. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Rafael Furcal's new Dodgers deal is almost official

Shortstop Rafael Furcal is in Los Angeles for a physical that will finalize his new three-year, $30-million contract with the Dodgers. The deal is expected to be made official this evening.

Furcal, 31, was limited to 36 regular-season games this year because of a bulging disk in his back that required surgery.

With Furcal signed, the Dodgers are expected to turn their attention to re-signing Manny Ramirez, and adding arms to their rotation and bullpen. 

-- Dylan Hernandez

Photo: Rafael Furcal. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Rafael Furcal's agents respond to Atlanta Braves' accusations

Agent Arn Tellem of the Wasserman Media Group that represents Rafael Furcal issued a written statement today in response to comments made by Atlanta Braves officials.

Braves General Manager Frank Wren and President John Schuerholz said their club had reached an agreement to sign Furcal to a three-year deal, only to learn later that Furcal's agents were still negotiating with the Dodgers. Furcal on Wednesday agreed to a three-year, $30-million contract with the Dodgers and is tentatively scheduled to undergo a physical on Friday.

Of his relationship with Tellem and Paul Kinzer, Wren told a Georgia radio station: "That bridge is gone. I don't have to worry about burning it." Schuerholz also told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the Braves would no longer consider signing players represented by Tellem's agency.

Tellem's  response:

With regard to the negotiations between the Atlanta Braves and Rafael Furcal, the essential facts are clear and cannot be disputed.

1. There was never an agreement reached between Rafael Furcal and the Atlanta Braves.

2. In fact, the Braves were fully aware that Furcal was not prepared to make a decision but had requested an opportunity to sleep on it, before deciding.

3. Moreover, the Baseball rules which all agents and teams operate under are clear that no deal exists between a player and a team unless and until: (i) there is a signed and executed player agreement or; (ii) the Player’s Union and the Commissioner’s office have otherwise confirmed the deal.  Neither occurred here. 

4. Furcal ultimately decided to accept the Dodgers' offer, taking into consideration a number of factors the most important of which was his desire to continue playing short-stop and not make the position change to second base that the Braves were requiring. 

5. Losing out on an all-star player like Furcal is always disappointing, and we understand the Braves' frustration with the outcome of this negotiation, but it does not change in any way the fact that we conducted ourselves with integrity and complied with all rules of major league baseball throughout this process.

6. Our primary obligation is to serve our client's best interests, and we will continue to do so in accordance with all relevant rules governing MLB negotiations and the utmost integrity.

7. If it serves our clients we will continue to present opportunities to the Braves, which in accordance with the rules governing Major League Baseball, the Braves must entertain.  We hope that once emotions have subsided, the Braves will act in a manner consistent with not only their obligations under the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the National Labor Relations Act, but also the best interests of the franchise. In short, we would not want this incident to color their better judgment. 

-- Dylan Hernandez

Photo: Sports agent Arn Tellem, right, and Casey Wasserman. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

Photo (inset): Rafael Furcal. Credit: Nati Harnik / Associated Press