Kent Expected Back -- at First

Jeff Kent could return to the lineup tonight -- at first base.

The Dodgers expect to activate Kent tonight and first baseman Nomar Garciaparra this week, but no sooner than Wednesday. By playing Julio Lugo at second base and Kent at first until then, the Dodgers could buy themselves a few more days to sort out their roster. Kent met with Manager Grady Little and agreed to play first if needed.

The Dodgers could clear roster spots for Kent and Garciaparra by returning rookie first baseman James Loney to triple-A Las Vegas and putting reliever Elmer Dessens on the disabled list. Dessens sprained his left ankle Friday and remained unavailable Sunday.

In the meantime, the Dodgers could send veterans Aaron Sele and Giovanni Carrara through waivers. If Dessens’ condition improves and Sele or Carrara clears waivers, the Dodgers could ask either pitcher to join Las Vegas until Sept. 1, then return when rosters expand.

The team is especially interested in keeping Sele, who could return to the starting rotation if necessary.

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Lugo plans to file for free agency this fall and sign with a team that will play him at shortstop, so the Dodgers would appear to have traded top prospect Joel Guzman for two months of Lugo and two premium draft picks when he signs elsewhere.

The draft picks aren’t automatic, though. To get them, the Dodgers must offer Lugo salary arbitration by Dec. 7.

If he hasn’t signed elsewhere by then, the Dodgers would have to weigh the value of the picks against the risk that Lugo would accept arbitration -- and the estimated $8-million salary that could come with it.

“That’s a long time from now,” General Manager Ned Colletti said. “I’m worried about today.”

The Angels faced a similar situation with catcher Bengie Molina last fall. Molina expected -- as did the Angels -- that another team would sign him to a long-term deal. On Dec. 7, with Molina unsigned, the Angels decided not to offer arbitration and forfeited the draft picks. Molina later signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

With Kent and shortstop Rafael Furcal signed through next season, Lugo would appear to have little interest in returning to the Dodgers, but Colletti said he hasn’t ruled out trying to keep him.

“Julio Lugo is a very good player,” Colletti said. “We figured we’d have a better shot with him this year, and maybe there might be a fit down the road.”

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Dodgers coach Rich Donnelly and Florida catcher Paul Hoover posed for a picture during the series. Their families live near each other in Ohio. Hoover used to play catch in Donnelly’s driveway, and one of Donnelly’s sons was in Hoover’s wedding. When the Marlins promoted Hoover last week, Donnelly was the first person he called.

Hoover’s parents are deaf, and Donnelly fondly recalled sitting next to them at Hoover’s high school basketball games. The parents would communicate with their son with gestures and sign language, and not always kindly, Donnelly remembered.