Izturis Remains at Home

Cesar Izturis again held his ground, declining to rejoin the Dodgers while his wife remained in the hospital after having a baby by caesarean section three days earlier.

Izturis missed the four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, irritating some members of the Dodgers’ brain trust. Izturis had permission to leave the team Sunday to be with his wife, Liliana, during the delivery and spend another day to ensure the situation was stable.

The Dodgers expected him to report for Wednesday’s game as long as there were no complications. That didn’t happen. Dodgers relief pitcher Giovanni Carrara, a close friend of Izturis, spoke to the third baseman at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and said he was waiting for the doctor to release Liliana.

“He wants to be here,” Carrara said. “He wants to play. But would you leave your wife in the hospital?”

The Dodgers and Izturis have had a strained relationship this year. Unwilling to wait until Izturis’ midseason return from elbow surgery, General Manager Ned Colletti signed shortstop Rafael Furcal to a three-year, $39-million contract.

Izturis balked at a Dodgers plan for him to become an outfielder, but he willingly moved to third base and has played well in 23 games, batting .282 and making several sparkling defensive plays.

However, he wouldn’t mind being traded if it meant returning to shortstop. Initially Colletti was willing to trade Izturis, but the season-ending injury to third baseman Bill Mueller changed the plan. The Dodgers don’t want a situation where their everyday third baseman is a rookie -- whether it be Willy Aybar, Andy LaRoche or Joel Guzman.

Trading Izturis would require acquiring another third baseman, and the Dodgers have reportedly expressed interest in Shea Hillenbrand, who has been designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Hillenbrand is batting .301 with 12 home runs, and the Dodgers could use a potent bat after scoring only 15 runs in their last eight games. However, he is a below-average fielder let go by the Blue Jays because he was a problem in the clubhouse.

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Kenny Lofton was given the day off, and Manager Grady Little talked about the 39-year-old center fielder’s recent defensive difficulties. Lofton made several poor throws and took indirect routes on fly balls during the eight-game trip.

“He’s probably had his better days out there, but the guy knows what he’s doing,” Little said. “He gives everything he’s got.”

Lofton hasn’t shown his age on offense. He is batting .299 and has stolen 16 bases in 17 attempts.

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It will be a lighter Brett Tomko who begins a minor league rehabilitation assignment. The right-hander is scheduled to pitch one inning Saturday and another Monday for triple-A Las Vegas before rejoining the Dodgers in the bullpen.

Tomko lost about 10 pounds while on the disabled list the last four weeks by changing his diet and working out.

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The Dodgers sent outfielder Justin Ruggiano to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to complete the trade that brought pitcher Mark Hendrickson and catcher Toby Hall for catcher Dioner Navarro and pitcher Jae Seo. Ruggiano, 24, was batting .260 with nine home runs for double-A Jacksonville.