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.

The Dodgers' bench figures to have a new look next season. Matt Kemp could be on it. So could Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford, or Yasiel Puig, depending on how they're playing and who's pitching for the other team. A person who met with Dodgers officials at the general managers' meetings last month was convinced they have no plans to trade any of their four high-profile outfielders. If that person is right, Manager Don Mattingly could have a dangerous late-inning option in reserve next season, provided all four outfielders remain healthy.

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.

The signing of Dan Haren won't prevent the Dodgers from pursuing Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, General Manager Ned Colletti intimated Monday. Although Colletti didn't mention Tanaka by name, he said, "If something else comes our way, we'll take a look at it. I'm not going to close the door on any more starters. " Including Haren, whose one-year, $10-million deal is now official, the Dodgers have five starting pitchers under contract for next season. That doesn't include Clayton Kershaw, who is eligible for salary arbitration.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Dodgers are open to trading one of their three veteran outfielders? If I were any more shocked I'd be Capt. Renault shutting down Rick's Cafe Americain. Of course they are. Why wouldn't they be? They'd better be. Which is not the same as saying they are actively trying to move Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier or Carl Crawford, but General Manager Ned Colletti would not be doing his job if he weren't at least open to the idea. It's pretty simple math. The Dodgers have four outfielders all making a heap of money and can play only three at a time.

It's the first of November, and how does your team shape up for 2014? Never too early to get overly excited, raise an eyebrow or, for some, to flat-out panic. The Dodgers are in better shape than most heading into the off-season, or at least the oddsmakers who have made them next season's early favorites think so. I mean, it's not like they're the Angels. But it's not as if General Manager Ned Colletti doesn't have his work cut out. Third base is an unknown, there could be two spots open in the rotation, and the bullpen and bench will need their annual overhaul.

Missing baseball already? Fear not, seam head, the hot stove league is now officially underway. One day they wrap up the World Series, the next they start anew. And because I know you were wondering, Bovada has listed the Dodgers as 7-1 favorites to win it all in 2014. Never too early to apply the pressure. Teams have a five-day window to deal exclusively with their own free agents before it's game on with all of baseball. The Dodgers have 10 free agents, plus two players with options.

This is the place where I would like to share my incredible personal connections to reveal the Dodgers' double-secret plans to snare Japanese star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Alas, there is none to offer. But, come on, does this not look like the most obvious move since Brad Pitt sidled up to Angelina Jolie? If the Dodgers' new ownership taught us one thing in the last year, it's that they are not afraid to spend in the international market. The fact that they gambled on Hyun-Jin Ryu ($36 million)

Some of the suspense has been removed from the unexpected Don Mattingly managerial storm. His agent, Ray Schulte, said Wednesday that Mattingly intends to honor his contract and manage the Dodgers next season, though he would still like to pursue an extension. At Monday's end-of-the-season news conference, Mattingly announced the option for his contract in 2014 automatically vested when the Dodgers advanced to the National League Championship Series, but added somewhat ominously, “That doesn't mean I'll be back.” But an obviously wounded Mattingly went on to bemoan having to manage as a lame duck and how he felt he was still auditioning for the job in his third season as the Dodgers' manager.

A day after Manager Don Mattingly said he wanted his entire coaching staff to return next season, the Dodgers fired his bench coach of three years. By dismissing Trey Hillman on Tuesday morning, upper management signaled to Mattingly that if he is to manage the Dodgers next season, he will manage under their terms. Mattingly revealed Monday a growing rift between him and the front office, insinuating he might not return in 2014 if he isn't offered a multiple-year contract.

It's the first of November, and how does your team shape up for 2014? Never too early to get overly excited, raise an eyebrow or, for some, to flat-out panic. The Dodgers are in better shape than most heading into the off-season, or at least the oddsmakers who have made them next season's early favorites think so. I mean, it's not like they're the Angels. But it's not as if General Manager Ned Colletti doesn't have his work cut out. Third base is an unknown, there could be two spots open in the rotation, and the bullpen and bench will need their annual overhaul.

Matt Kemp will spend his second consecutive off-season recovering from surgery. Kemp underwent an operation Monday to clean up his sprained left ankle, a procedure that will prevent him from running for at least the next two months. The Dodgers are hopeful Kemp will be ready to play on opening day, but if he isn't, are thinking their latest high-priced addition could help offset Kemp's absence. Earlier in the day, the Dodgers signed Cuban defector Alexander Guerrero to a four-year, $28-million contract.

Do you want me or not? That was the question Manager Don Mattingly put forth to upper management in a tense and awkward news conference Monday at Dodger Stadium. Mattingly revealed that the team option in his contract for 2014 became guaranteed when the Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves in a National League division series. However, the manager quickly added, "That doesn't mean I'll be back. " Mattingly and General Manager Ned Colletti sat only a few feet apart on the dais, but it was apparent a sizable chasm had developed between Mattingly and the front office that Colletti represented.