Bradley Is Still in Team’s Plans

The Dodgers are counting on outfielder Milton Bradley to remain a key component of their lineup despite his ongoing anger problems, General Manager Paul DePodesta said Thursday

Bradley was arrested last week for confronting a police officer during a routine traffic stop in Ohio. DePodesta expects Bradley, who earned $1.73 million last season, to agree to a new contract without going through arbitration.

DePodesta said Bradley has agreed to remain in right field should the Dodgers sign or trade for a center fielder. The Dodgers are not ruling out a multiyear offer for free-agent center fielder Steve Finley, but DePodesta said the team would not pursue top-echelon free-agent center fielder Carlos Beltran.

The Dodgers have made a two-year offer to outfielder David Dellucci, who hit 17 home runs with the Texas Rangers in a reserve role last season. Dellucci has said he prefers to re-sign with the Rangers. The Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks are also interested in him.

The Dodgers are considering re-signing free-agent left-hander Odalis Perez. “He’s open to coming back,” DePodesta said.

The team also is encouraged by early signs outfielder Jayson Werth and pitcher Brad Penny could rebound from arm injuries in time for spring training. Both players are throwing lightly.

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Right-hander Jose Lima, a free agent who was 13-5 with the Dodgers last season, might have to pay as much as $950,000 to a woman who claims she contracted genital herpes from him. A Houston civil jury this week awarded Michelle E. Rudolph $475,000 for assault and $475,000 for negligence by Lima.

Lima’s attorney, Raphaell Wilkins, plans to appeal. Lima, who makes his off-season home in Houston, is married and has a son.

Rudolph says Lima dated her for about two years before he took a trip to the Dominican Republic and returned with the incurable virus. She said their last sexual encounter was on Feb. 16 and she was diagnosed with herpes five days later.

Associated Press contributed to this report.