Phillies’ Polanco Is a Trade Possibility

Woe are the Dodgers at third base. And the problems remind critics of the front office that power-hitting Adrian Beltre got away during the off-season.

The current choices at third are a bargain bin of journeymen, imports and players more comfortable at other positions.

The Dodgers aren’t in a panic, but they are exploring trade options, beginning with disgruntled Placido Polanco of the Philadelphia Phillies, perhaps the only proven player at the position available now.

The trade market won’t heat up until closer to the All-Star break, when teams can more accurately project whether they will be in a title race. But Polanco, a .295 lifetime hitter and solid defensive player who has a one-year, $4.6-million deal, is unhappy playing behind David Bell at third and Chase Utley at second.

More than one Dodger has privately indicated that Polanco is a positive force in the clubhouse and would be a good addition.

ESPN.com reported that the Phillies want to package Polanco with first baseman Ryan Howard, who hit 46 home runs in the minors last season. Howard, frustrated that his path to the big leagues is blocked by Jim Thome, asked before the season to be traded.

The Dodgers have several excellent minor league prospects at third: Willie Aybar, Joel Guzman, Andy LaRoche and Blake Dewitt. But none is ready now. “We don’t want to force-feed one of those guys at the expense of their development,” Manager Jim Tracy said.

Dodger third basemen were batting .202 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in before Monday’s game. They had 19 walks, so at least their on-base percentage was an above-average .341.

And the Dodgers are barely adequate defensively at third, especially since Jose Valentin became sidelined with a knee injury and Norihiro Nakamura, the Japanese player with the quirky swing, was designated for assignment.

Antonio Perez, a second baseman by trade, is taking a crash course at third in triple-A and is expected to be given a chance to win the job when his rehabilitation assignment ends May 17.

Oscar Robles has been summoned from the Mexican League, but he’s primarily a middle infielder. Pinch-hitting specialist Olmedo Saenz and career minor league utility player Mike Edwards aren’t long-range answers.

It’s enough for Dodger followers to look longingly to Seattle, where Beltre signed a five-year, $64-million contract. But so far with the Mariners, his numbers aren’t much better than the Dodgers are getting at the position. Beltre is batting .242 with three home runs, 19 RBIs and has a .274 on-base percentage; he has walked only five times.