Much Is Unknown About Brazoban’s Status

Yhency Brazoban will report to spring training today.

Or he might not.

Brazoban hurt his arm pitching in the Dominican Winter League.

Or he didn’t.

Brazoban won’t pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Or he might.

Definitive answers are elusive when it comes to the enigmatic relief pitcher and a country where news travels slow and seems to change with the trade winds.

Visa problems apparently kept Brazoban from reporting Wednesday along with other pitchers and catchers. A Dodger spokesman said the right-hander would arrive today, but another team official later said that might not be the case.

Also Wednesday, the manager of the Dominican WBC team, Manny Acta, said Brazoban was left off the 30-man roster because he “finished the [winter] season a little hurt in the Dominican.”

However, Brazoban spent the last week of January and the first week of February in Los Angeles, worked out and exhibited no signs of injury.

The Dodgers arranged the trip to excuse Brazoban from his winter league team in Licey, which was headed to the playoffs.

Brazoban led the league with 14 saves and had a 1.64 earned-run average in 22 innings, but the Dodgers thought he had pitched enough and needed a break before spring training.

He made 74 appearances to set a Dodger rookie record last season and had 105 appearances in two seasons with rookie status, third highest in major league history.

Perhaps the sore-arm story circulated as a way for Brazoban to gracefully bow out before the playoffs. Or maybe he actually has a sore arm.

*

Despite an injury-filled 2005 season, Dominican pitcher Odalis Perez plans to participate in the World Baseball Classic.

Perez had shoulder and rib injuries last season but said he is “in the best shape of my life.” He would be the only left-handed starter for the Dominican team.

Of course, he is also the only left-handed starter on the Dodgers, who like most teams are worried about injury-prone players participating in the tournament.

“I only pitched one game in winter league because my shoulder bothered me,” he said. “But I’ve been working really hard. I feel good.”

*

Brian Sabean, the San Francisco Giant general manager, normally doesn’t have much to say about the Dodgers. But with his former lieutenant Ned Colletti taking over as Dodger general manager, Sabean has developed an interest, especially in Colletti’s off-season spending spree.

“I think what Ned did was very smart,” Sabean said. “I don’t want to say it’s a quick fix, but he got a lot of people in there who understand what it is to be a professional.

“These new signings want to prove themselves. There’s going to be a lot of energy. They’re going to think they’re pretty good.”

*

The massive turnover among Dodger employees has not abated. Pat Screnar, the Dodger physical therapist since 1981, resigned this week. Also, strength and conditioning coach Todd Clausen quit to become closer Eric Gagne’s personal trainer and baseball operations coordinator Dan Feinstein left to take a post in the front office of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Colletti said he tried unsuccessfully to convince Screnar to stay. Successors for Screnar and Clausen are expected to come from within the organization.

Feinstein began his career with the Oakland Athletics and was a disciple of Paul DePodesta, who was fired as Dodger general manager in November.

*

Gagne said he contacted Canadian team officials and informed them he would not play in the World Baseball Classic.... Dominican pitcher Franquelis Osoria will not arrive until at least Friday because of a delay obtaining a visa.... Infielder Olmedo Saenz might be late reporting because his mother died in Panama.... Manager Grady Little said Derek Lowe or Brad Penny would be the starting pitcher opening day.

Times staff writer Tim Brown contributed to this report.