Lowell Tops Shopping List

Florida Marlin third baseman Mike Lowell is atop the list of players the Dodgers are pursuing in trades, two National League executives said Saturday.

John Boles, a senior advisor to General Manager Dan Evans, recently scouted Lowell when the Marlins played the Montreal Expos in Miami. The Dodgers also have had other scouts monitoring Lowell.

“We’ve had a number of conversations with a number of clubs,” Evans said, “but I’m not at liberty to talk about the content of any of our negotiations or specific players. I just won’t do that.”

The second-place Dodgers are eager to acquire another middle-of-the-order batter, believing a little more offense would enable them to overtake the San Francisco Giants in the NL West.

Although third baseman Adrian Beltre has disappointed, the Dodgers are not focusing only on that position, sources in the organization said. However, many believe Lowell is a good fit.

Through Friday, Lowell was batting .297. His 16 home runs, 43 runs batted in and .603 slugging percentage would lead the Dodgers.

Lowell, in his fifth full season, has a salary of $3.7 million in the final year of a three-year deal, and he can become a free agent after next season. Beltre is also making $3.7 million in his fifth full season, and has been hitting better recently, although his average is only .211.

But it is believed the Dodgers would rather have Lowell, whom they would offer a multiyear contract. Beltre still has trade value despite his poor production, the NL executives said.

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Dave Roberts is off the disabled list.

The Dodgers activated the leadoff batter after Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, hoping Roberts will help jump-start the offense.

Roberts said he’s ready after testing his right hamstring in a rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Las Vegas. “I accomplished what I wanted to in Vegas,” Roberts said. “I hit some balls on the ground, ran things out and tested it a little bit.”

Before going on the disabled list, Roberts was batting .281 with one homer, seven RBIs and had 18 stolen bases in 20 attempts.

To make room for Roberts on the 25-man roster, the Dodgers put struggling outfielder Daryle Ward (right wrist tendinitis) on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday. Ward, batting .169 without a homer in 71 at-bats, has been suffering from inflammation of his joints caused by swinging a bat too much in batting practice, team medical personnel said.