Cora Breaks Arm Breaking Up Two

It wasn’t nearly the jolt the New York Yankees got when they learned third baseman Aaron Boone tore up his knee playing basketball, but the Dodgers got a scare Tuesday when they discovered second baseman Alex Cora broke his right forearm in a winter league game in his native Puerto Rico on Sunday.

Cora, who suffered the injury while sliding into second base to break up a double play, is expected to be out four to six weeks, so he will miss the first part of the March exhibition schedule in Florida.

But if the arm heals properly and there are no setbacks, Cora, a 27-year-old who has signed for $1.3 million, should be ready for the start of the season. Cora will travel to Los Angeles this week to be examined by Dr. Frank Jobe, the team physician.

“The early indications are that he should be OK to start the season ... but it’s a little too early to be real definitive about it because our medical staff hasn’t seen him yet,” General Manager Dan Evans said. “I’ve been told four to six weeks. If he’s going to break his arm, now was a better time to do it than later.”

Cora hit .249 with 24 doubles, 39 runs and 34 runs batted in last season, but his most significant contributions came in the field, where he developed into one of baseball’s better defensive second basemen.

If for some reason Cora is not ready for the April 5 season opener, utility player Jolbert Cabrera, who hit .282 with 32 doubles and 37 RBIs last season, or triple-A second baseman Joe Thurston probably would start at second.

As insurance and to add more infield depth, Evans signed utility player Jose Hernandez, who can play all four infield and all three outfield positions, to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Hernandez, who would make $875,000 if he makes the team, is known as much for his strikeouts as he is for his power, having hit .225 with 13 homers, 57 RBIs and 177 strikeouts in 519 at-bats for the Rockies, Cubs and Pirates last season.

*

Evans moved to fortify his pitching staff, signing right-hander Jose Lima to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Lima will make $900,000 if he makes the club.

Lima, 31, who went 8-3 with a 4.91 earned-run average in 14 starts for Kansas City last season, will compete for the swing role that was filled in 2002 by Omar Daal and in 2003 by Wilson Alvarez, the left-handers who pitched in long relief but moved into the rotation when a starting pitcher was injured. Starters Hideo Nomo (minor shoulder) and Darren Dreifort (major knee) are returning from surgeries this spring.

A star for the Houston Astros in 1998 (16-8, 3.70 ERA) and 1999 (21-10, 3.58 ERA), Lima has gone 25-37 in the last four seasons and has a 71-77 career record and 5.13 ERA in 10 seasons.

*

Evans will complete interviews for the Dodgers’ vacant batting instructor position when he meets former Arizona Diamondback hitting coach Dwayne Murphy and Dodger minor league hitting coordinator Bob Mariano to discuss the job today.

Tim Wallach is considered the front-runner.