Dodgers’ Garciaparra doubtful for opening day, Torre says

PHOENIX – Nomar Garciaparra is “doubtful” for opening day, Manager Joe Torre said Thursday, and the Dodgers aren’t sure how long a broken bone in his right hand will keep their starting third baseman sidelined.

“I don’t anticipate him being ready,” Torre said. “I think we have to wait probably until the beginning of next week to figure our how long we’re going to be without Nomar.”

Garciaparra hasn’t played since taking a pitch off his wrist March 7, the same day backup third baseman Andy LaRoche torn a ligament in his right thumb. LaRoche isn’t expected back for at least six weeks.

Among the options in the interim, Torre said, is Tony Abreu, who played some third base for the Dodgers last summer; rookie shortstop Chin-lung Hu; veteran utility player Ramon Martinez; and Blake DeWitt, who was promoted from minor league camp two days after Garciaparra was injured and has played well in his absence.

In the Dodgers’ 8-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, DeWitt played the first five innings at third, striking out and walking in two plate appearances before being replaced by Abreu. Hu started at second base and had a two-run triple. He’s expected to play at third today.

Shortstop Rafael Furcal chipped in with four hits, including his third home run of the spring, and staring pitcher Brad Penny gave up three hits and an unearned run in six innings. Less effective was closer Takashi Saito, who took over for Penny and gave up a run and three hits in his only inning.

On the Garciaparra front, General Manager Ned Colletti said he has talked trade with several clubs, characterizing those discussions as normal this time of year. But he added that he would prefer to get a better look at the options on his roster before turning to the trade market.

“There may be something from the outside,” he said. “Right now no one’s piqued our interest.”

Colletti said he would be reluctant to make any kind of deal until he learned more about the length of Garciaparra’s absence. In the meantime, he said, he’s comfortable with the in-house candidates at third.

Garciaparra’s injury was originally diagnosed as a bruise but an MRI in Los Angeles on Wednesday found a microfracture. Garciaparra said he won’t swing a bat for at least a week to avoid aggravating the break, leaving him just five days – at most - to get ready for the Dodgers’ March 31 opener.

“I just have to let nature take its course and let it heal. My body will tell me more than I can tell it,” Garciaparra said.

But while the Dodgers are contemplating the idea of placing him on the disabled list to start the season, Garciaparra still believes he could be ready to play by then.

“I’m not even looking that far ahead. I know it’s a big cliché but I am looking at it one day at a time to see how it feels every day,” he said. “I have no control over the healing process. The body will do that.”

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If the Dodgers do place Garciaparra on the DL for opening day, that could to open a roster spot for versatile Delwyn Young.

Young has struggled this spring but is out of options, meaning the team would have to make him available to the 29 other clubs on waivers before he could be outrighted to the minors.

Young, who has played second and the outfield this spring, leads the team with three errors and is hitting .156 with nearly twice as many strikeouts (13) as hits (seven).

The Dodgers face a similar situation with pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo, who could make the team as a long reliever depending on whether Torre breaks camp with 11 or 12 pitchers. Kuo has not given up a run in six innings this spring.

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Lost amid the attention on Garciaparra’s injury is the fact that second baseman Jeff Kent hasn’t played since tweaking a hamstring March 4. Kent had a cortisone shot before the team left Florida and began jogging Wednesday but Torre remained uncertain when he would play again.

“He’s taking ground balls, he’s taking batting practice,” Torre said. “So I think when his leg lets him do it, he’ll be playing games.”

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Torre said he hasn’t settled on an opening day outfield yet with Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Juan Pierre competing for the two spots flanking center fielder Andruw Jones.

Going into the spring it looked as if Pierre’s speed and experience would give him an edge. But he’s hitting .200 while Ethier, who got a rare start against a left-hander Thursday and had two hits, is batting .352 and leads the team in home runs with five. Kemp, who homered Thursday and is hitting .304, leads the team in RBIs with 15.

“That’s going to be my toughest stuff I have to deal with, the outfield,” Torre said. “You have two guys that are experienced and talented. And you have the two kids that are inexperienced and talented. Whatever way you go there’s going to be a starting outfielder that’s not going to be playing.”

kevin.baxter@latimes.com