The Dodgers #1 goal in free agency is to retain Manny Ramirez, but, C.C Sabathia has stated that he wants to pitch near his Southern California home. Still, for the Dodgers to sign Sabathia he would have to give up some jack as they won’t come near matching the Yanks 6-year, $140 million dollar offer. The Dodgers will likely also make offers to A.J. Burnett, Ben Sheets, Randy Johnson and Oliver Perez. They need more than one starting pitcher so they might also add one from the second tier including Jon Garland, Braden Looper, Paul Byrd or Pedro Martinez. The Dodgers also need lefty help in the bullpen and they will likely be in on Joe Beimel, Brian Shouse, Arthur Rhodes, Darren Oliver, Dennys Reyes, Alan Embree, Will Ohman, Eddie Guardado and Trever Miller. The Dodgers also have to rebuild the infield as they need a 2B, SS and 3B. The #1 priority on the infield will be trying to bring back Rafael Furcal. If they lose out on Furcal then Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Felipe Lopez and Juan Uribe are in play. At 2B the Dodgers will likely look to a less expensive veteran like Mark Grudzielanek or Mark Loretta. 3B is pretty thin with just Casey Blake and Joe Crede starter worthy. The Dodgers might elect to go with 2nd year man Blake DeWitt at 3B if they don’t re-sign Blake or sign Crede. The Dodgers could also use a legit backup for Russell Martin so that he doesn’t get burned out. Paul LoDuca, Gregg Zaun, Michael Barrett and Javier Valentin all make sense for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have declined Brad Penny’s 2009 option valued at $8.75 million bucks. Penny pitched in 19 games (17 starts) last season for the Dodgers and he was 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. Penny pitched in 118 games (115 starts) in his five seasons with the Dodgers and he was 46-33 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. If Penny is healthy the Dodgers will wish they picked up his option but that’s a very big if.

The Dodgers have declined 36-year old righty swinging catcher Gary Bennett’s 2009 option valued at $900,000. Bennett only played in 10 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 4 for 21 (.190 avg, .642 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs. Bennett has now played in 587 games in his major league career and he is 408 for 1,690 (.241 avg, .630 OPS) with 141 runs scored, 22 homers and 192 RBIs. The Dodgers will be looking for a better backup to Russell Martin so they don’t burn him out in 2009.