DePodesta, Boras Discuss Hochevar

Paul DePodesta and agent Scott Boras sat behind home plate at Angel Stadium on Thursday night discussing whether top draft pick Luke Hochevar would sign with the Dodgers.

Hochevar’s latest demand is between $3.5 million and $4 million; the Dodgers have increased their offer to nearly $3 million.

“We’ll see what tomorrow brings,” DePodesta said.

Hochevar could attend classes at Tennessee today and the Dodgers would lose their rights to him. Or he could wait through the weekend, although he has already missed nine days of school.

“If he makes that decision [to return to school], we totally respect that,” DePodesta said.

The involvement of the Dodger general manager was an indication negotiations have heated up. Scouting director Logan White had been representing the Dodgers, even talking to Boras earlier Thursday.

“We are taking it seriously that he could go to school,” White said. “We are believing them. Could they decide to change their course of action? I would hope so. Maybe we can get close and he doesn’t go to school and we iron it out the next few days.”

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Rosters expanded Thursday, but help from the minor leagues will come in trickles.

Two players will join the Dodgers today, and DePodesta has said only players who address immediate needs were considered. A left-hander in the bullpen would help because Wilson Alvarez is injured, and a fast baserunner would come in handy.

The best left-handed prospect is Hong-Chin Kuo, a hard thrower from Taiwan who posted a 1.91 earned-run average at double-A Jacksonville. Kuo, 24, has struck out 44 and walked 11 in 28 1/3 innings.

A possible pinch-runner is outfielder Todd Donovan, who has 60 stolen bases in double A. However, he probably would stay with Jacksonville until after the Southern League playoffs.

A third catcher is a strong possibility for a promotion because Manager Jim Tracy’s options are limited when Dioner Navarro catches and backup Jason Phillips plays first base. Mike Rose, who batted .211 in 13 games with the Dodgers earlier this season, is available now and top prospect Russell Martin could come from Jacksonville later.

Rose is on the 40-man roster and Kuo and Donovan are not.

There is one open spot on the roster and the Dodgers could create more by moving players from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.

Eric Gagne, Kelly Wunsch and Milton Bradley are currently on the 15-day disabled list.