Dodgers have plenty of questions to address
BASEBALL
Not only will signing Manny Ramirez be a focal point, but the team must decide whether to retain Lowe, Furcal, Blake and others, whether to trade Pierre and whether to explore the free-agent market for a pitcher.
Manny Ramirez cleaned out his locker at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, revealing no more about his future than he did after the Dodgers' 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.
Juan Pierre and Nomar Garciaparra were also about to leave the clubhouse to uncertain futures. Pierre's agent says his client wants to be traded, while Garciaparra said he didn't know whether he would retire.
Manager Joe Torre said he hadn't had enough time to think ahead to the winter and how he, General Manager Ned Colletti and owner Frank McCourt would assemble the team for next season.
Twelve players from this year's NL West championship team will be free agents, including Ramirez, pitcher Derek Lowe, shortstop Rafael Furcal, third baseman Casey Blake and second baseman Jeff Kent, who is pondering retirement. McCourt ensured a certain level of stability when he told The Times on Wednesday that Colletti would be back next season, but the front office could lose assistant general manager Kim Ng, who is a finalist for the GM vacancy in Seattle.
With the Dodgers not scheduled to hold their organizational meetings until later this month, the most Torre could say was that pitching would probably be their top priority.
"I still think that pitching is really something you really have to pay attention to," Torre said. "I know we all get caught up in the offensive part of this game, but I certainly think that pitching is something that really should be front and center as far as being addressed."
Lowe is assumed to be leaving. He has often felt underappreciated in his four seasons with the Dodgers, according to sources close to him who spoke anonymously to avoid creating tension while the team was still in the playoffs. The club never approached Lowe, 35, about a contract extension this season, though that in part was because he is represented by Scott Boras, who prefers that his clients test the market.
Another big decision in the coming weeks will concern Brad Penny, who was 16-4 in 2007 and was the opening day starter this season. But Penny was 6-9 with a 6.27 earned-run average and left the team after being put on the 60-day disabled list, which ended his year.
Penny's contract includes a $9.25 million club option for 2009 that could be bought out for $2 million.
Torre said he recently reached out to Penny and said he wanted to have lunch with him.
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