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.

With the Dodgers' brass still ensconced upstairs, the Dodgers' spokesman on the story of Yasiel Puig's incredible journey from Cuba to the United States remains Manager Don Mattingly. Which is unfortunate, and unfair. Mattingly shouldn't have to be the one to answer the media's daily questions about Puig's escape, yet the Dodgers' manager remains dangled out there alone. The Dodgers returned home Friday for the first time since the story broke Sunday, and Mattingly was again left to meet the local media, cameras and newscasters at Dodger Stadium vainly attempting to gain any insight on Puig's story.

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.

Smile, what's the use of crying? You'll find that life is still worthwhile If you just smile Come now Dodgers fans, raise up that chinny-chin chin. Sure, the news coming out of the Dodgers' game Tuesday was of the dark variety. Two-time Cy Young winner and $215-million man Clayton Kershaw now looks out until May with a back injury, and it would be a shock to no one if it's not June. And even then, it might take a while before Kershaw is Kershaw. And it's a tad tough to be humming “Don't Worry Baby” over Brian Wilson's sudden elbow problem.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hanley Ramirez has entered his walk year. Ramirez and Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter each expressed interest in completing a contract extension eight months ago, but the two sides have not reached a deal, and Ramirez can file for free agency after the season. Ramirez could be the premier position player available in free agency, if he gets there, when contract values for star players are escalating rapidly. The other top position players eligible to hit the market appear to be fellow infielders Chase Headley of the San Diego Padres and Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants.

For Chone Figgins, his reunion with the Angels in the Freeway Series will mark a triumph. Games against his former team used to a be painful reminder of what he left behind. Over the next three days, when the Dodgers and Angels face each other in their annual exhibition series, they will be a testament to his perseverance. Figgins is on the Dodgers' major league roster, a minor miracle considering how he has spent the last several years. He went into spring training on a minor league contract.

PHOENIX  - There's a massive painting hanging in a hallway of Dan Haren's home in Irvine that shows the pitcher, mid-windup, in the uniforms of the first four major league teams for which he played. It was meant to be a memento of an All-Star career. But it was outdated shortly after the paint dried. "Little did I know," said Haren, who has pitched for two more teams since hanging the artwork in his home two seasons ago. This spring he's wearing the blue script of the Dodgers, who signed him to a one-year, $10-million free-agent contract in November.

Here's a free tip to that legion of relievers making plans to be in the Dodgers' bullpen this season: Better be on your game early and often. General Manager Ned Colletti has assembled a relief corps of pitchers who are used to being in at the end of games, including former closers Brian Wilson, Brandon League and Chris Perez. Perez is the former Indians closer signed during the off-season, and his  early spring results are all of the encouraging variety. Tuesday was a relievers game anyway, seven different members of the bullpen filling in for starter Zack Greinke, who remains out with a calf strain.

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.

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.

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.

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.