Who’s on Third? It Could Be Mark Lewis

Infielder Mark Lewis, recently signed to a minor league contract, could be the Dodgers’ opening-day third baseman.

“We will get him over here [into major league camp],” Manager Jim Tracy said Friday. “And we will get him some opportunities soon.”

Adrian Beltre is scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery Monday for the second time in two months, and backup third baseman Dave Hansen might be sidelined early in the season because of a broken bone in his left hand.

Journeyman Chris Donnels and nonroster players Tim Bogar and Jeff Reboulet are being considered for the job, and rookie Hiram Bocachica, recently converted from an outfielder to an infielder, is playing third for the first time.

Lewis has batted .264 with 155 doubles, 48 home runs and 306 runs batted in during a 10-year career.

The right-handed batter was a key reserve with the Baltimore Orioles last season, and also played for the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies.

“We’ll take a look at him,” General Manager Kevin Malone said. “We like the people we have, but he will get a chance.”

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Gary Sheffield, for the first time, declined comment about the Dodgers’ efforts to trade him.

“Nothing new happening right now,” said Sheffield, hitless in two at-bats in a 7-6 victory over the Orioles. “Like I said before, I don’t want to make this any more difficult than it already is. Let’s just see what happens.”

The Dodgers have not been able to come up with a satisfactory deal for Sheffield and many baseball executives said clubs are leery of acquiring Sheffield because of his acrimonious breakups with the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins and Dodgers.

Scouts who have evaluated Sheffield, hitless in nine exhibition at-bats, said the six-time all-star is going through the motions, much as he did shortly before leaving his previous teams.

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Luke Prokopec, expected to start the season at triple-A Las Vegas, pitched two scoreless innings against the Orioles.

Some scouts believe the Australian right-hander is as good a prospect as right-hander Eric Gagne.

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Infielder Keith Johnson hit an eighth-inning grand slam to give the Dodgers a 7-5 lead.

Johnson, who had four at-bats with the Angels last season, is batting .417 with two homers and five RBIs.

Reliever Gregg Olson worked a scoreless eighth and had movement and velocity on his fastball, Tracy said.

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The Dodgers will defer $1 million this season and $1.5 million next year on the remaining $10 million of outfielder Marquis Grissom’s contract.