General Manager Ned Colletti

In response to widespread speculation that financial troubles could significantly compromise the quality of the Dodgers' on-field product next season, General Manager Ned Colletti said on the opening day of baseball's winter meetings that the club intends to spend at least as much on players as it did last season. Asked whether the Dodgers' payroll could decrease, Colletti said, "Not at the moment." Colletti didn't rule out that the payroll could increase, and downplayed concerns that have been raised about owner Frank McCourt's divorce proceedings and the club's decision not to offer any of its free agents salary arbitration.

PHOENIX - With a long-awaited conflict again coming into view, Dodgers outfielders have taken a variety of approaches to what could be an uncomfortable situation. Matt Kemp was brazen, declaring he wouldn't be a fourth outfielder. Carl Crawford was understanding. Yasiel Puig was diplomatic, saying he would respect any decision made by Manager Don Mattingly. Then there is Andre Ethier, who, when asked about playing time and potential trades, smiled, shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.

Eric Gagne's longshot bid to return to the major leagues with the Dodgers just got longer. The former ace reliever was sent to the minors Monday mainly because he needs more work than would be available with the big league club, General Manager Ned Colletti said. "For the most part he needs to pitch, he needs to build up his arm strength especially for his off-speed stuff," Colletti said of Gagne, 34, a former Cy Young Award winner with the Dodgers who later was identified in the Mitchell Report as a user of performance-enhancing drugs.

PHOENIX  - Told the Dodgers signed free-agent shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena to a five-year, $25-million contract, Yasiel Puig was flooded with memories of his childhood in Cuba. Puig and Arruebarrena met as 9-year-olds in Cienfuegos. They played together on various youth teams. Eventually, they became standouts on the Elefantes, their hometown club in Cuba's top baseball league. "He was a good friend of mine," Puig said Saturday. "We were always together. " They were frequently at each other's houses.

The Dodgers are “pretty much done” with their winter shopping, General Manager Ned Colletti said Tuesday. But Colletti declined to say whether the Dodgers would make an exception for Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, who is coming to the major leagues. Tanaka's current team announced on Christmas Day in Japan that it would permit the 25-year-old starting pitcher to pursue his dream of pitching in the United States. The Rakuten Golden Eagles initially resisted moving their ace because of new rules that will prevent them from receiving more than $20 million for his rights.

Before the next owner is in place and starts promising to restore the team to its former glory, it looks as though the Dodgers will have to endure another barren winter. The Dodgers have plenty of needs. But with departing owner Frank McCourt preparing to sell, they have even less cash than usual to spend on players. The combined 2012 salaries of the players on their opening-day roster are expected to be less than $90 million. Ideally, the Dodgers would be looking to add a middle-of-the-lineup bat, a couple of middle-of-the-rotation starting pitchers and a veteran catcher at baseball's winter meetings.

In a week highlighted by a court ruling that eventually could force their sale, the Dodgers departed from the winter meetings Thursday without Carl Crawford in their lineup or Cliff Lee in their rotation. But General Manager Ned Colletti sounded pleased with what they did here over the last four days, as they agreed to one-year deals with pitcher Vicente Padilla , outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. and catcher Dioner Navarro . "We got nothing that's eye-opening," Colletti said, "but it does help us put the team together and give us some depth.

The notion that the Dodgers had entered a new big-money era was dispelled Tuesday when General Manager Ned Colletti acknowledged the team was unlikely to make a run at top-line free agents such as Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols. Asked of the possibility of adding a big bat, Colletti said, "As of today, it looks less realistic. " The concession was made only a day after the Dodgers finalized an eight-year, $160-million contract with Matt Kemp and departing owner Frank McCourt said Colletti was free to pursue the likes of Fielder and Pujols.

PHOENIX — Andre Ethier said Tuesday he does not plan to impose a deadline on negotiations on the contract extension that could keep him out of free agency. Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti has said he would like to re-sign Ethier and has discussed the idea with Dodgers President Stan Kasten , who took office three weeks ago. Ethier said Tuesday he and his agent have not received a formal contract proposal from the Dodgers. Ethier also said he did not anticipate a point where free agency could be so close that he would put any contract talks on hold before he could test the market.

Reporting from Philadelphia Dee Gordon might have benefited from playing out the remainder of the triple-A season and waiting until September for his first major league call-up, General Manager Ned Colletti conceded. But the Dodgers couldn't wait, not with Rafael Furcal on the disabled list. So, the Dodgers called up their top position player prospect Monday, the same day they activated infielder Juan Uribe , outfielder Marcus Thames and reliever Blake Hawksworth . The Dodgers cleared room on their active roster by sending John Ely and Ivan De Jesus Jr. to triple-A Albuquerque and designating Juan Castro and Jay Gibbons for assignment.

PHOENIX  - Officially, Hyun-Jin Ryu doesn't weigh any less than he did last year. The Dodgers still list his weight as 255 pounds. But his face doesn't look nearly as self-indulgent. His torso appears leaner. "I weigh significantly less than I did this time last year," Ryu said through interpreter Martin Kim. Ryu declined to specify how much less - "Only I know," he said with a smile - but the South Korean left-hander certainly looked lighter on his feet Sunday in the first workout of the spring for the Dodgers pitchers and catchers.

The Dodgers still have a math problem in the outfield, but you have to wonder if it will ultimately be the one so anticipated. They still have four high-profile outfielders for three spots. Of course, they were expected to have the same problem last season after the emergence of Yasiel Puig. But because of various injuries, it happened one game all season. But now all four expect to be healthy. And to play, naturally. Matt Kemp made it clear he expects to be in the lineup each game, which would reduce this four for three to a three-for-two spots dilemma.

Matt Kemp said Saturday he might not be ready to play on opening day, insisting he didn't want to repeat the mistake he made last year of rushing back from injuries. The Dodgers are starting their season about a week earlier than usual, with a two-game series in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 22-23. They will play their domestic opener April 1 in San Diego. Kemp is recovering from a major operation on his left ankle, as well as a minor procedure on his previously repaired left shoulder.

The Dodgers' off-season maneuvering is more down to the fine-tuning than meeting glaring needs. Sure, they're interested in Masahiro Tanaka and would listen on David Price. They'd listen to a lot of things. But a real need is something else, and the only thing they could really use right now is a utility infielder. Gone are Nick Punto and Skip Schumaker. To the booth has moved Jerry Hairston Jr. Long gone is Luis Cruz. Maybe Dee Gordon can become that guy or we really should take General Manager Ned Colletti seriously when he talks about weak-hitting minor leaguer Miguel Rojas.

Even after signing Clayton Kershaw to a record-breaking deal, the Dodgers remain in active talks with Masahiro Tanaka's agent. General Manager Ned Colletti said he has spoken with agent Casey Close every day this week except Thursday. Tanaka is expected to land a contract worth more than $100 million. In addition to that, the team that signs Tanaka will owe a $20-million posting fee to his Japanese team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Close also represents Kershaw and Zack Greinke.

Signing a pitcher to a long-term contract is risky, even if that pitcher is Clayton Kershaw. Dodgers President Stan Kasten acknowledged that reality Friday, when his team formally announced its seven-year, $215-million deal with Kershaw. "We know all the precedents, we know all the risks," Kasten said. Nonetheless, the franchise that previously signed Kevin Brown and Darren Dreifort to regrettable deals made the 25-year-old Kershaw the highest-paid pitcher in the history of baseball.

MILWAUKEE - Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti was evasive when asked Monday about Don Mattingly's job status, refusing to say whether the last-place team could fire its manager this week. Against this backdrop of uncertainty, Clayton Kershaw pitched his second complete game of the season, a 107-pitch masterpiece in a 3-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park that ended the Dodgers' three-game losing streak. "Every time I get in trouble, Kersh saves me for one more day," Mattingly said jokingly.

Clayton Kershaw already has won two Cy Young Awards and led the National League in earned-run average three times. Now, the 25-year-old left-hander is about to become the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history. Kershaw and the Dodgers have agreed to a seven-year, $215-million contract, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke under the condition of anonymity because the deal isn't expected to be announced until Friday. At $30.7 million per season, the average annual value of the contract is the highest ever for a player at any position.

The final act of Greg Maddux's distinguished career was an ignoble one. He wandered in from the Dodgers' bullpen in the third inning, with his team losing. He departed in the fifth inning, his team even further behind. "A very special day for me," Maddux said. Maddux, arguably the premier pitcher of his generation, started more games than any pitcher in major league history except Cy Young, Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton. The Dodgers dumped him into middle relief for the 2008 National League Championship Series - him and Clayton Kershaw, perhaps the most glamorous mop-up crew in recent memory.