Dodgers roster in flux to start the season
Sizing up the Dodgers’ 25-man roster for opening day:
STARTERS
No.; Name; Pos.; B/T; Age; Comment
25; CARL CRAWFORD; LF; L/L; 31; Looking to rebound from the two worst years of his career.
14; MARK ELLIS; 2B; R/R; 35; Dependable veteran provides stability in the middle of the infield.
27; MATT KEMP; CF; R/R; 28; Recovering from shoulder surgery; one of baseball’s best players when healthy.
23; ADRIAN GONZALEZ; 1B; L/L; 30; Might not be the home-run threat he used to be, but a good bet to hit close to .300 and drive in 100 runs.
16; ANDRE ETHIER; RF; L/L; 30; Working with hitting coach Mark McGwire to improve approach against left-handers.
47; LUIS CRUZ; 3B; R/R; 29; Out to prove that his fairytale-like 21/2 months in 2012 weren’t a fluke.
17; A.J. ELLIS; C; R/R; 31; Trusted game-caller might be the most patient hitter in the game.
72; JUSTIN SELLERS; SS; R/R; 27; Light-hitting slick fielder could be an option at shortstop if Dodgers make defense the priority.
PITCHING ROTATION
No.; Name; B/T; Age; Comment
22; CLAYTON KERSHAW; L/L; 25; The unquestioned ace of an increasingly deep staff.
99; HYUN-JIN RYU; R/L; 26; $62.5 million investment will become the first player to go directly from the Korean league to the majors.
61; JOSH BECKETT; R/R; 32; Former flamethrower is attempting to reinvent himself as a command pitcher.
21; ZACK GREINKE; R/R; 29; Last winter’s top free-agent pitcher battled a bruised elbow in spring training.
BULLPEN
No.; Name; B/T; Age; Comment
31; BRANDON LEAGUE; R/R; 30; Signed to a three-year, $22.5 million deal, he will start the season as the closer.
74; KENLEY JANSEN; S/R; 25; Future closer recovering from an off-season heart operation.
51; RONALD BELISARIO; R/R; 30; Former problem player might have the best stuff on the team.
56; J.P. HOWELL; L/L; 20; The only left-hander in the bullpen.
55; MATT GUERRIER; R/R; 34; Arm trouble limited him to 16 appearances last season.
35; CHRIS CAPUANO; L/L; 34; Crowded rotation will force this solid starter to the bullpen; a trade candidate.
41; AARON HARANG; R/R; 34; In the same situation as Capuano.
77; KEVIN GREGG; R/R; 34; Veteran reliever has made 63 or more appearances in five of last six seasons.
75; PACO RODRIGUEZ; L/L; 21; First player in the entire 2012 draft class to reach the major leagues.
RESERVES
No.; Name; Pos.; B/T; Age; Comment
18; TIM FEDEROWICZ; C; R/R; 25; Rookie has drawn praise for his work behind the plate.
5; JUAN URIBE; 1B/3B; R/R; 34; A .199 hitter over the last two years attempting to salvage his career.
3; SKIP SCHUMAKER; UT; L/R; 33; Acquired at insistence of McGwire; can play infield and outfield.
7; NICK PUNTO; UT; S/R; 35; Will share time at third base with Hairston and Uribe; could also fill in at shortstop.
6; JERRY HAIRSTON JR.; 3B; R/R; 36; Veteran utilityman will be one of three players to share third base until Hanley Ramirez returns.
DISABLED LIST
Chad Billingsley, RHP; Hanley Ramirez, SS; Ted Lilly, LHP; Scott Elbert, LHP.
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