DePodesta Visits Triple-A Club

General Manager Paul DePodesta continued his tour of the farm system Saturday, observing the triple-A Las Vegas 51s while considering trade options as the July 31 non-waiver deadline draws closer.

“This is the one group I haven’t seen much of,” DePodesta said of the 51s. “It makes sense for me to be here now, because if we do decide to do something, I need to know what we have to work with.”

Meanwhile, Dodger scouts continued to compile reports on second-tier starters who might become available at the deadline, including Montreal right-hander Tony Armas Jr. DePodesta hopes to bolster a rotation depleted by injuries to Hideo Nomo and Edwin Jackson, who are on the disabled list indefinitely.

“The guys have done a great job, and they could continue to do a great job, but we’ve had injuries and there’s still a long way to go,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said.

DePodesta said he’s out there looking, but he hasn’t seen many starters better than those the Dodgers already have in the rotation.

“For us to make that move, we’ve got to get someone who’s better than a Wilson Alvarez, better than a Jose Lima, better than an Edwin Jackson,” DePodesta said. “I don’t think there are that many guys like that out there.”

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Dave Roberts was not in the starting lineup Saturday for the fourth time in six games since Manager Jim Tracy said the team has “four outfielders for three spots.”

Tracy bristled at questions about whether Roberts had been demoted to the fourth outfielder behind Jayson Werth, reaffirming he would use Roberts, Werth, Milton Bradley and Juan Encarnacion in a four-man rotation.

But Roberts has been the odd man out so far.

“Jayson Werth needs to play right now against some right-handed pitching,” Tracy said. “We need to find out how much right-handed pitching can he take on, handle and deal with.”

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A crowded outfield might become even more congested if the Dodgers acquire Arizona center fielder Steve Finley.

DePodesta has had talks with the Diamondbacks about the four-time Gold Glove Award winner, baseball sources said.

The Dodgers are among several contending teams bidding for the 39-year-old Finley, who has a no-trade clause and owns a house in north San Diego County. Beginning play Saturday, Finley was batting .281 with 23 home runs and 48 runs batted in.

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Nomo is scheduled to throw as many as 40 pitches today in his second bullpen session in three days.

The right-hander, on the disabled list because of inflammation in his rotator cuff, threw 15 pitches Friday.