The Dodgers have released righty reliever Yhency Brazoban. He pitched in 116 games (0 starts) in his career with the Dodgers and he was 10-12 with 21 saves, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Brazoban just had too many problems with injuries which derailed his major league career.

The Dodgers re-signed 35-year old righty swinging Casey Blake to start at 3B in 2009. He played in 152 games for the Dodgers and Indians last season in which he was 147 for 536 (.274 avg, .808 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 21 homers and 81 RBIs. He did made 14 errors in 133 games at 3B and showed below average range. Look for Blake to have another solid season in 2009 for the Dodgers.

Mark Loretta will be one of the backups at 3B for the Dodgers in 2009. He played in 17 games at 3B last season and he only made 1 error while showing outstanding range. Doug Mientkiewicz added 3B to his portfolio last season but it didn’t go that well as he made 7 errors in 33 games there for the Pirates. Blake DeWitt has a future with the Dodgers but it might have to wait as they don’t likely want him sitting on the bench. He played in 95 games at 3B last season for the Dodgers making 8 errors while showing outstanding range. Tony Abreu didn’t play last season due to injury but he’s back.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: B

The Dodgers were smart to bring back 31-year old switch hitting shortstop Rafael Furcal. He only played in 36 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 51 for 143 (.357 avg, .912 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 5 homers, 16 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Furcal played in 36 games at shortstop last season for the Dodgers and he made 4 errors while showing below average range. Furcal’s injuries might have hurt him in the field as he’s a much better defensive player than he showed last season.

25-year old righty swinging Chin-lung Hu had a rough time for the Dodgers last season. He played in 65 games for the Dodgers last year and he was 21 for 116 (.181 avg, .485 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 9 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Hu was solid in the field for the Dodgers though as he didn’t make any errors in 35 games at shortstop last season while showing good range. Hu also played in 41 AAA games last season in which he was 46 for 156 (.295 avg, .708 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 1 homer, 15 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Dodgers had quite a few chances to trade Hu in the off-season but they decided against it as they like his upside.

Veterans Juan Castro and Hector Luna have been brought in to battle Hu for a spot off the bench. Castro didn’t make any errors in 7 games at shortstop last season while showing below average range. Luna did not play SS in the majors last season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: B+

The Dodgers have signed 30-year old righty reliever Tim Corcoran to a minor league deal. He pitched in 19 games (9 starts) in A+AA+AAA ball last season and he was 4-2 with a 5.03 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Corcoran has also pitched in 40 games (17 starts) in his major league career in which he was 5-9 with a 4.97 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He will likely start the season in AAA and get a call if the Dodgers suffer some injuries in the bullpen in 2009.

The Dodgers were going to have five players battle for the starting job at 2B this spring before signing 31-year old switch hitting Orlando Hudson to a discount contract to start. Hudson played in 107 games for the D-Backs last season and he was 124 for 407 (.305 avg, .819 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 8 homers, 41 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Look for Hudson to be a good hitter for the Dodgers in 2009. The Dodgers are hoping that Hudson lives up to his reputation as a elite defender unlike last season. Hudson showed below average range last season while making 9 errors in 105 games there. He’s better than that and this was a great signing for the Dodgers.

23-year old lefty swinging Jake DeWitt was in line to start at 2B before Hudson came on board. He will now try to make the Dodgers as a utility player. DeWitt played in 117 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 97 for 368 (.264 avg, .727 OPS) with 45 runs scored, 9 homers, 52 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. In 27 games at 2B last season DeWitt made 2 errors while showing below average range. It’s likely that DeWitt will start the season in AAA and get a call in anyone in the infield gets injured.

37-year old righty swinging Mark Loretta will have a job on the Dodgers’ bench. He played in 101 games for the Astros last season and he was 73 for 261 (.280 avg, .733 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 4 homers and 38 RBIs. Loretta showed average range last season in 46 games at 2B last season for the Astros while only making 1 error there. Loretta will have another solid season in 2009 for the Dodgers……he always does.

36-year old righty swinging Juan Castro is also on hand to battle for a bench job. He played in 61 games for the Orioles and Reds last season in which he was 31 for 161 (.193 avg, .513 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 2 homers and 16 RBIs. Castro is a natural shortstop show he should have no problem handling 2B defensively.

28-year old righty swinging Luis Maza was re-signed in the off season by the Dodgers. He played in 45 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 18 for 79 (.228 avg, .560 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs. He made 2 errors in 35 games at 2B last season while showing average range. Maza also played in 63 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 90 for 238 (.378 avg, .942 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 2 homers and 29 RBIs. The Dodgers hope Maza’s minor league success converts to the majors in the near future.

24-year old switch hitting Tony Abreu didn’t play last season due to injury. He played in 59 games for the Dodgers in 2007 in which he was 45 for 166 (.271 avg, .713 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 2 homers and 17 RBIs. Abreu will likely start the season in AAA to prove his health.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: B