Sunday Meeting May Yield a Blueprint

With spring training winding down, the Dodger brain trust will convene Sunday to exchange views on the 25-man roster and formulate a plan for a triple-A team stocked with top prospects.

General Manager Ned Colletti, assistants Kim Ng, Roy Smith and Bill Lajoie, Manager Grady Little and his coaches will be joined by player development director Terry Collins and the triple-A staff of Manager Jerry Royster and coaches Steve Yeager and Ken Howell.

Among the issues will be whether to begin the season with 11 or 12 pitchers. Little is leaning toward 11 because there are three off days in April, meaning a four-man starting rotation can be used for most of the month.

That would enable the Dodgers to keep an additional position player until May, and it probably would be the best available hitter. Hee-Seop Choi, who is playing with Korea in the World Baseball Classic, is a strong candidate. Outfield prospects Joel Guzman and Andre Ethier are possibilities, as is Cody Ross, who leads the Dodgers with four home runs this spring.

Several teams have inquired about Ross, who can elect to become a free agent if the Dodgers try to send him to the minors.

There is an outside chance that two utility infielders, Oscar Robles and Ramon Martinez, could remain on the roster through April, although eventually one is expected to play shortstop at Las Vegas.

The rotation is set with Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Odalis Perez, Brett Tomko and Jae Seo. Two bullpen spots are up for grabs -- three if 12 pitchers are kept -- to join Eric Gagne, Danys Baez, Lance Carter and Yhency Brazoban.

One would be left-handed Kelly Wunsch, who was effective last season against the best left-handed batters in the National League. Colletti also likes left-handed rookies Hong-Chih Kuo and Tim Hamulack, although they probably will start the season at Las Vegas unless the Dodgers go with 12 pitchers.

The last spot would be filled by someone who can pitch several innings at a time. Veteran Aaron Sele, right-hander Takashi Saito and hard-throwing rookies Franquelis Osoria and Jonathan Broxton are candidates. Second-year swingman D.J. Houlton has struggled; he gave up four runs in two innings during a 7-7 tie with the New York Mets Friday night.