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The Dodgers have begun to shop options for pitching help.

Earlier this month it was reported the Dodgers had inquired about veteran aces Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee. Reports said both teams answered “not right now” but the underlying theme was a denial back from the Dodgers to include first baseman James Loney.

Loney is currently hitting just under .300 for the Boys in Blue. He is a solid fielder with Gold Glove potential, but the Dodgers are looking for him to power-up, providing a more potent bat in the middle of the line-up.

The left-handed first baseman has a career .285 batting average but has just 50 home runs in 535 games.

His performance at the plate is the main focus for improvement in the Dodgers’ eyes. However, for that same reason, he is attractive to other teams for his run production while providing sharp fielding abilities.

Loney will be a free agent at the end of 2010, and his contract will likely require a higher salary if he continues to perform at a higher level. 

Teams looking to re-tool their offense will soon be enquiring further about Loney, but what will it cost L.A. to move him? 

The Dodgers don’t have another option at first base. In Spring Training, the team attempted to groom Ronnie Belliard for the position, but it has been clear ever since that he is much more comfortable at second or third. 

Is it worth it for a solid ace to anchor a weakened starting rotation? Ned Colletti is known for pulling the strings just before the deadline, and July is sure to be an exciting month in Tinsel Town.

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It’s finally over for right handed knuckleballer Charlie Haeger. The Dodgers designated Haeger for assignment on Friday, effectively ending Haeger’s days as a Dodger.

The 26-year-old holds a 1-5 record as a Dodger while allowing 35 earned runs in just 30 innings pitched.

Haeger never really got on track in two abbreviated seasons for L.A., and spent several days on the DL in two separate stints with Planter Fasciitis in 2010. During both minor league rehabs, Haeger was impressive and earned a promotion back to the major league roster. 

However, following his second activation from the DL, Haeger was pulled one out away from qualifying for a win with a four run lead. The surprise move raised eyebrows and confused the knuckleballer. Less than 24 hours later, he was DFA’d.

The Dodgers now have ten days to trade Haeger, release him, or after clearing waivers, assign him to Triple-A Albuquerque. 

It is not likely Haeger will garner much attention on the trade market. However, he is young and has plenty of time to perfect the dancing pitch that is so rare in baseball. 

With Vicente Padilla resuming his spot in the rotation, and Chad Billingsley on the disabled list, the Dodgers have four set starters: Clayton Kershaw, Vicente Padilla, Hiroki Kuroda and John Ely. 

Expect relievers such as Jeff Weaver and Carlos Monasterios to make spot starts during Billingsley’s rehab. Once Billingsley returns, Ely will most likely continue filling the fifth starter position.

To fill the newly vacated roster spot, the Dodgers have called up reliever Jon Link, one of two pitchers (John Ely) acquired in the trade that sent Juan Pierre to the White Sox.

The call-up is Link’s fourth already this season, but he has a combined 4.1 innings pitched in four games. 

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If you didn’t see this coming, you truly know what it means to be a fan and love blindly.

The Dodgers stumbled into interleague play with a pitching staff turning out one brilliant performance after another, while the offense provided just enough of a pulse to keep the team alive.

Minus a couple of run-scoring outbursts, one against the Cardinals and a week later against the Reds, the Dodgers have scored five runs or fewer in 14 of 18 games in June, including back-to-back 1-0 wins against the hapless Diamondbacks.

It was only a matter of time before the thin starting rotation began to falter and the bullpen was exposed for its lack of effectiveness.

The routine goes something like this: The starting pitchers sharpen up and therefore go deeper into games. The bullpen, therefore, doesn’t have to participate in extended inning appearances and can get by while being effective in short relief.

The offense then simply has to cover the gap. A small number of runs will be held up by the opposition’s lack of offense during superb Dodgers pitching.

The Dodgers experienced success with Hiroki Kuroda remaining healthy, a young pitcher not preceded by a scouting report, and a 22-year-old work horse fronting a veteran staff.

However, more injuries to the starting rotation and bullpen, along with borrowed time catching up to John Ely and the Dodgers who are finding themselves dropping to third place in the N.L. West.

The offense that went previously undetected now looks like a watermelon on the radar screen, having been swept by the Angels and the Red Sox.

American League teams specialize in hitting while having no pitcher spot to account for, and the comparison between American League offensive production and the lack of Dodgers production was made glaringly obvious.

Andre Ethier’s batting average has steadily dropped to .318 since returning from the Disabled List. Matt Kemp went through a 0-16 slump and saw his batting average plummet to .258 with just a small handful of RBI in June.

The Dodgers continue to struggle to produce with runners in scoring position and have their hands full this week. The Dodgers are set to take on the Angels for a three-game series in Anaheim.

So where do the Dodgers go from here? They have signed Kiko Calero and Claudio Vargas, figures on the horizon that Los Angeles hopes are not a mirage.

The veteran pitchers will come in with low expectations; they simply have to stay healthy and will already be faring better than current Dodgers pitchers. Their assignment, if called upon, will be to eat up innings and provide spot starts while rotation starters Chad Billingsley and Carlos Monasterios lick their wounds.

Vicente Padilla is back just in time, as his start Saturday bridged a gap and bailed out manager Joe Torre, who was relieved to be out of a pickle. Padilla wasn’t overly impressive, but kept the team in the neighborhood before the bullpen gave it away.

If the current trend holds up, fans can expect some serious shuffling of names on the active roster, with notable names and new faces adorning the blue and red.

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This weekend will mark the first time Dodgers’ left fielder Manny Ramirez will play in Fenway Park since departing the Red Sox.

With the Dodgers currently in a first place battle in the NL West, and the Red Sox heating up and making a push in the AL East, the series looks to be a TV ratings power boost.

The Dodgers are now in first place, following two dominant wins to begin the series with Cincinnati. They have the best record in the National League, despite numerous injuries to the pitching staff.

The Red Sox are a first-place contender in every other division but the AL East, and will be looking to move within striking distance of the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. They are currently just three games back.

Pitching match-ups and scouting reports may be key in this series, as well as several hitters heating up. The last time the Dodgers played the Red Sox was on March 30, 2008. The Spring Training exhibition was claimed by the Dodgers in an 8-0 affair.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers signed veteran right-handed pitcher Kiko Calero to a minor league contracton Friday, but his call-up to the Major League roster can be expected, possibly in the next week.

Following being swept for the first time at Chavez Ravine by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, concerns are once again rising regarding Dodgers pitching. In the three games this weekend, the Dodgers’ pitching staff surrendered 20 runs while the offense could only produce eight runs.

The key to the recent Dodgers success prior to the “Freeway Series” was the ability of the bullpen to relieve excellent efforts from the starting pitching.

In the month of June, the Dodgers are 7-5 while scoring just 43 runs in those 12 games, an average of 3.58 runs per game. If you remove an offensive outburst against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, June 7, in which the Dodgers scored 12 runs, that average drops to 2.58 RPG.

The key pitching that has fueled the Dodgers’ winning record in June has suddenly turned to a weakness as the pitching staff has struggled.

Calero can add experience and depth to a bullpen desperately needing stability; an issue that has plagued them all season. Thus far in his brief work at Triple-A Albuquerque, Calero has two shutout innings while allowing just one hit, with a .143 opponent’s batting average.

Make no mistake: The Dodgers signed Calero with the intention of adding him to the major league bullpen, and if the current pitchers on the roster continue to struggle, it won’t be long until Calero makes his debut in Dodger Blue.

It appears as though every time the pitching staff struggles, the offense picks up the slack, and when the offense lapses, the pitching staff proves invaluable. The Dodgers are just a game out of first place and hold the second best record in the National League.

Perhaps just a few small pieces are missing to solidify a playoff-type roster, and perhaps Calero is one of those small pieces. Dodger fans will most likely know in a few short weeks.

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No, the picture on this article was not chosen by mistake. The Dodgers used their first pick of the draft to select a high school pitcher who also stars as a quarterback.

With the 28th overall pick of the 2010 MLB First-Year player draft, the Dodgers selected Zach Lee of McKinney High School in McKinney, TX.

The draft pick raised several eyebrows for several reasons.

First of all, Zach Lee is just 18 years old and has a full scholarship to LSU for baseball AND football. The likelihood of a young athlete foregoing a free education and a chance to play two sports in a prominent conference while receiving major publicity is very slim.

Dodgers Assistant GM and Director of Amateur and International Scouting Logan White has established a trend over the last decade: He has drafted a pitcher with the Dodgers’ first pick in eight of the last nine drafts, and six of those pitchers have been prep stars (pitchers drafted out of high school).

It would be inaccurate to say that White’s strategy has been unsuccessful.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

Entering Spring Training this season, 23 players on the Dodgers 40 man roster were signed as draft picks or free agents by the amateur scouting staff, and prior to accepting the Assistant GM position, 20 of the players drafted or signed by White have reached the major league level.

White’s strategy has produced current starting pitchers Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw, and the only pick in the last nine years White chose that wasn’t a pitcher is current Dodgers starting first baseman James Loney.

However, there hasn’t been a situation in the Dodgers front office in recent years like there is in the 2010 season.

The Dodgers have been enjoying a large market and high salary cap over the last decade, but a struggling economy and nasty divorce between owners Frank McCourt and estranged wife Jamie may spell disaster with the current draft formula in place.

The upcoming and current financial troubles were ever present and evident with the remaining selections of the draft for the Dodgers. A conservative approach in the later rounds of the draft shows the Dodgers are wary of the future.

Los Angeles drafted several other high school pitchers and position players with their remaining picks, including another pitcher in the second round, a center fielder with the 142nd overall pick, and yet another pitcher with the 202nd pick.

What the large number of high school players shows is the lack of faith in financial stability in the upcoming years.

Dodgers fans shouldn’t expect to see players come through the minor league system the same way they have in recent years, and this may be why the Dodgers have been reluctant to trade away their young talent. There may not be anyone to replace the current roster should the team make a blockbuster trade to acquire a big name.

Likewise, the future of elite Dodgers pitching may rely on the decision of an 18-year-old pitcher/quarterback and his family. Now begins the waiting game…

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Just over a third of the way through the 2010 season, it is overly apparent: The Dodgers have been hit hard by injuries straight out of the gate.

However, hope is on the horizon. A perpetually depleted bullpen is starting to rebound from injuries to its main characters. Hong-Chih Kuo is beginning to find his form that enabled him to have success in his 2009 campaign.

Jeff Weaver, the Dodgers veteran righty out of the ‘pen has been heckled by numerous health issues all season. However, it appears as though his recent soreness will not force him to the disabled list.

George Sherrill is recovering nicely from a back strain that forced him to the 15-day disabled list on May 24. The set-up man made his first rehab start June 1, and reports were promising. Following more work on Saturday, in which Sherrill pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning for Triple-A Albuquerque, the lefty is on pace to return shortly.

Cory Wade is set to start his minor league rehabilitation in the upcoming week, and may make his season debut in the month of June.

Vicente Padilla is scheduled to return on June 18, just in time to start against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. His return will necessitate a decision for Joe Torre. The skipper will have to decide between two young arms.

Charlie Haeger is coming off the DL following a rehab to firm up the healing process on the turf toe that has hindered his delivery over the last month.

Haeger’s competition for the final spot in the starting rotation is fierce. Rookie John Ely has made a strong campaign to remain on the roster. His 2.54 ERA and .208 opponents’ BA would be difficult to dismiss, especially considering Haeger has struggled all season.

Ely has also shown he has the ability to go deep in to games, which had been Haeger’s number one attribute. A rubber arm will certainly be welcomed during a time of inconsistency healthwise on the Dodgers’ 25-man roster.

There is still no estimated time of return for Russell Martin’s veteran back-up, Brad Ausmus. The 41-year-old catcher is still on the 60-day disabled list following April surgery on a pinched nerve in his lower back. Although Ausmus is able to walk around and even play a little toss, his back still tightens up on occasion and there’s no reason to chance it given A.J. Ellis’ youth and versatility.

Finally, the Dodgers will decide the immediate future for starting third baseman Casey Blake. While fielding pre-game ground balls on Thursday, Blake felt pain in his lower back, and was immediately removed from the line-up. He will be evaluated on Sunday, after an MRI showed perplexing and inconclusive results.

If Blake lands on the DL, expect veterans Jamey Carroll and Ronnie Belliard to pick up the slack, and see increased playing time. Blake DeWitt will have to find an offensive groove; he will be called upon to be the every day second baseman in Blake’s absence.

For further updates, fans can catch the Dodgers versus the Braves, with a marquee pitching match-up (John Ely 3-2, 2.54 ERA vs. Tim Hudson 6-1, 2.30 ERA) set for 1:10 PT at Dodger Stadium.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are slowly rising to the top of the National League West, but one glaring issue still remains: There are four established pitchers in their five-man starting rotation.

The Tigers designated Dontrelle Willis for assignment on Saturday following a rough start for the pitcher in 2010. Willis never really lived up to the expectations put forth by the Tigers when signing him to a 3-year, $29 million contract.

However, the southpaw is a former 22 game winner and World Series Champion while with the Florida Marlins.

There are several other reasons why Dontrelle Willis would make a good fit in Los Angeles. As I mentioned in an earlier article, the Dodgers really need another lefty in their rotation. Clayton Kershaw remains the ace of the staff, and the lone lefty in a quartet that is missing a drummer.

Willis is only owed $12 million for this season, the final year of his contract. That is roughly half the cost of alternatives such as Roy Oswalt, who comes with a price tag in the neighborhood of $25 million.

It is no secret at this point; pitchers that switch leagues tend to have immediate success, and with Willis being in the final year of his contract, the Dodgers could use his services for the remainder of the season before a decision becomes necessary.

Exhibit A: Halladay comes over from the American League, departing the Toronto Blue Jays and joining the Philadelphia Phillies. The result: A perfect game.

Cliff Lee came over to the Phillies in 2009 from the Cleveland Indians, and became a vital piece of their playoff run.

For the Dodgers, Vicente Padilla came across the line from the Texas Rangers, and soon anchored and stabilized the rotation.

Certainly there are cons alongside all of the obvious pros. The hefty contract remainder makes Willis a gamble, especially since he hasn’t shown any signs of improvement this season. However, the idea the Dodgers could have five established starters with the return of a healthy Padilla makes it tempting to speculate.

Not to sell John Ely short, the rookie is having an impressive year, but Major League Baseball is a business. The youngster has plenty of time to develop and make his run to become an ace. However, the trend in baseball has a theme: “Win now, worry about tomorrow later.”

There are eight days remaining before the Tigers will have to make a decision, and fans can expect a melee to ensue this weekend if nothing materializes in the next few days.

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Thursday marked the end of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ experiments with a pair of Ortiz veterans, and possibly the end of Ramon Ortiz’s major league career.

The Dodgers surprised experts and fans alike at the beginning of spring training with the news they had invited Russ and Ramon Ortiz (no relation) to camp with a decent shot at making the roster. True to their word, both veterans found their way to the big league club after decent spring campaigns.

However, it wasn’t long before Russ Ortiz showed signs of struggle. In six appearances, Russ allowed eight runs over just seven innings.

As mainstay pitchers Ronald Belisario and Hong-Chih Kuo came back from visa issues and injuries, respectively, Russ Ortiz found himself sitting with one cheek off a crowded bullpen bench.

He was designated for assignment on April 18, while carrying a 10.29 ERA on his back. Russ has yet to find a job since being dispatched, and it is likely if he is not signed by the All-Star break, he will call it a career.

Now, just over a month after Russ’ departure, Ramon is facing a very similar fate. With the economy effecting every aspect of the job market, including roster spots on major league clubs, the future is bleak for the veteran righty.

Ramon has a career record of 85-82 with a 4.93 ERA. A career reliever by most respects, Ortiz has 274 games under his belt, spanning nearly 1,400 innings. His contributions for the Anaheim Angels in 2002 earned him a World Series ring.

Replaced by a younger and cheaper option, Justin Miller, Ramon lies in limbo for another eight days. When a player is designated for assignment, it means he has ten days to be traded to another club. The likelihood of this happening is slim for Ortiz. There are few teams that would willingly gamble on a fading career while giving up a prospect or position player.

If the player hasn’t been claimed after the 10 day period, the choices become even more dim. Ramon can accept a minor league assignment, or be released on waivers. If released, it will most likely mark the end of a decent career, and it is possible fans will see Ramon in a coaching position in the near future.

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Just under 50 games in to the 2010 season, the first word of potential trade brewings has surfaced for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to the Dodgers’ website, the team has inquired about pitchers Roy Oswalt of the Houston Astros and Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners. Although both teams responded with a “No, for now” it doesn’t necessarily mean the door can’t be opened later.

But which pitcher would make a better fit in Tinsel Town? Perhaps the pitcher with the ability to eat up innings or simply keep the Dodgers in the game long enough for the offense to solidify a victory. If not that, at the very least keep hitters from sending the ball to left field.

On the slides to follow will be a break down of Roy Oswalt’s attributes and Cliff Lee’s skills, respectively. Along with statistics will be an inside look at each player, and how they might fare in Los Angeles.

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