WHO'S NEW* SS Rafael Furcal, 1B Nomar...

WHO’S NEW* SS Rafael Furcal, 1B Nomar...

By STEVE HENSON

Feb. 15, 2006 12 AM PT

WHO’S NEW

* SS Rafael Furcal, 1B Nomar Garciaparra, 3B Bill Mueller, CF Kenny Lofton, C Sandy Alomar Jr., P Jae Seo, P Brett Tomko, P Danys Baez, P Lance Carter.

WHO’S GONE

* P Jeff Weaver, OF Milton Bradley, IF Antonio Perez, P Elmer Dessens, P Giovanni Carrara, 3B Jose Valentin, P Wilson Alvarez, P Edwin Jackson.

BIGGEST QUESTION

* Is Eric Gagne’s arm healthy enough for him to regain his place as baseball’s best closer? Gagne injured a knee last spring, hurt his arm days before the season began, then had elbow surgery June 24 after coming back for a month. He made only 14 appearances and had eight saves, a far cry from the 152 saves he notched the previous three years. Because Gagne is a leader and the Dodger with the most seniority, his presence in the clubhouse is nearly as important as it is in the bullpen. A healthy Gagne would shorten games for new Manager Grady Little, enabling Danys Baez to pitch the eighth inning and leaving only the sixth and seventh to less proven relievers.

JOB SEEKERS

* What a difference a year -- and a new general manager -- make. First baseman Hee-Seop Choi, a favorite of former GM Paul DePodesta, was handed a starting job last spring. This year he will have difficulty making the team because first basemen Nomar Garciaparra and Olmedo Saenz are assured jobs. The versatile Jason Repko should make the team, at least until Jayson Werth is healthy. Oscar Robles, who played well last season, and Ramon Martinez, who has ties to General Manager Ned Colletti from San Francisco, will battle for the utility infield spot. D.J. Houlton could become the fifth starter or long man in the bullpen. Left-handers Kelly Wunsch, Tim Hamulack, Hong-Chih Kuo and Joe Beimel will compete for a situational role in the bullpen.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON

* Garciaparra, right fielder J.D. Drew and pitcher Odalis Perez. If Garciaparra and Drew remain healthy, the Dodger lineup could be formidable. If one or both misses a significant amount of time -- as they did last season -- the team would have limited power and struggle to score runs. Similarly, the quality of the starting rotation hinges primarily on Perez, whose injuries kept him from performing at the level expected when he signed a three-year contract to remain a Dodger. Perez, the only left-handed starter, will be slotted behind Derek Lowe and Brad Penny as the No. 3 man in the rotation.

REASONS TO BE EXCITED

* The rash of acquisitions made by Colletti, especially the retooled infield of Garciaparra, Rafael Furcal and Bill Mueller to go with returnee Jeff Kent, gives the Dodgers a veteran look and a chance to compete for the National League West title even on the heels of a 71-91 record. The batting order is stronger from top to bottom. Meanwhile, the group of prospects expected to make a strong impact should get one step closer to Dodger Stadium -- and several could make their major league debuts during the 2006 season.

REASONS TO BE WORRIED

* Several key players are coming off surgeries -- Kent, Furcal, infielder Cesar Izturis, Werth, Drew, Gagne and Wunsch. Lack of depth in the outfield and the starting rotation make the Dodgers vulnerable to collapse if key players don’t remain healthy. Chemistry is also a concern because of all the turnover. A new coaching staff must gel with mostly new players, while several rookies could join the mix at any point during the season.

PROJECTED LINEUP

SS...Rafael Furcal

CF...Kenny Lofton

RF...J.D. Drew

2B...Jeff Kent

1B...Nomar Garciaparra

3B...Bill Mueller

C...Dioner Navarro

LF...Jose Cruz

PROJECTED ROTATION

RH...Derek Lowe

RH...Brad Penny