The Dodgers have waived 29-year old righty swinging outfielder Jason Repko. Repko played in 18 games this spring for the Dodgers and he was 2 of 28 (.083 avg, .540 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer, 3 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He played in 10 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 0 for 5 (.000 avg, .143 OPS) with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. Repko played in parts of 4 seasons with the Dodgers appearing in 230 games in which he was 97 of 429 (.226 avg, .668 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 11 homers, 47 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. The Dodgers needed Repko’s roster space but they also did him a favor as he never really got a legit shot with them.

The Dodgers have sold 30-year old lefty starter Eric Stults to the Hiroshima Carp of Japan. Stults pitched in 10 games (all starts) for the Dodgers last season and he was 4-3 with a 4.86 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. Stults pitched in 35 games (24 starts) in his four years with the Dodgers and he was 8-10 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. The Dodgers essentially did Stults a favor as he was likely to start this season in AAA ball.

The Dodgers are in a World Series or bust mode right now and why shouldn’t they be. Their manager has won 4 World Series in his career so why not think big? Torre led the Dodgers to a 95-67 record (58.6%) last season winning the N.L. West and beating the Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the Phillies in the N.L.C.S. Torre is now 179-145 (55.2%) in his two years with the Dodgers. He has now compiled a 2,246-1,915 (54%) in his major league career as a manager in 28 years. He has won 6 American League Pennants and 4 World Series (all with the Yankees).

PROJECTED GRADE BY THE MANAGER IN 2010: B+

The Dodgers have a loaded bullpen ready for the 2010 season. It all starts with “Big” Jonathan Broxton. 25-year old righty Jonathan Broxton will be the closer again in 2010 pumping fastballs right by hitter. Broxton pitched in 73 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last season in which he was 7-2 with 36 saves, a 2.61 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. He only gave up 44 hits in 76 innings last season while whiffing 114 batters showing just how nasty he is. He has now pitched in 308 games (0 starts) in his five years with the Dodgers and he is 19-12 with 55 saves, a 2.92 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.

32-year old lefty George Sherrill will be the set up man for the Dodgers in 2010. Sherrill pitched in 30 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last season after coming over from the Orioles in a trade and he was 1-0 with 1 save, a 0.65 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He pitched in 72 games (0 starts) overall for the Dodgers & Orioles last season in which he was 1-1 with 21 saves, a 1.70 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Sherrill could step in for Jonathan Broxton as the closer if he gets hurt.

28-year old lefty Hong-Chih Kuo is a dominator when healthy. Kuo pitched in 35 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last season in which he was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. In his last two years with the Dodgers, Kuo has pitched in 77 games (3 starts) in which he was 7-3 with 1 save, a 2.37 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He has whiffed 128 batters while only allowing 81 hits in 110 innings the last two years for the Dodgers showing just how dominant he has been.

27-year old righty Ramon Troncoso will likely also get some chances late in games for the Dodgers in 2010. Troncoso pitched in 73 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last season in which he was 5-4 with 6 saves, a 2.72 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. His WHIP was a little high but I look for him to improve in that area in 2010.

27-year old righty Ronald Belisario just got into spring training camp due to visa problems in Venezuela. He pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 4-3 with a 2.04 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He only gave up 52 hits in 70 2/3 innings last season showing just how nasty he can be. It will be interesting to see how the Dodgers handle Belisario as they are not happy with him right now.

32-year old righty Luis Ayala will have a good shot to make the bullpen. He pitched in 38 games (0 starts) for the Twins and Marlins last season in which he was 1-5 with a 5.62 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Ayala just hasn’t been the same since he blew out his elbow in the World Baseball Classic. The Dodgers are hoping that they are getting the Ayala that dominated from 2003-07 with the Nationals/Expos. In those four years, Ayala pitched in 258 games (0 starts) in which he was 26-24 with 9 saves, a 2.82 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.

32-year old Justin Miller pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Giants last season and he was 3-3 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has really been a solid pitcher in the National League and I think he will help the Dodgers in 2010.

26-year old righty Cory Wade will miss the first three months of the season due to surgery but the Dodgers hope he can help them at some point in 2010. Wade pitched in 27 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last season in which he was 2-3 with a 5.53 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. That was a huge dropoff from his rookie year in 2008 when he pitched in 55 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers in which he was 2-1 with a 2.27 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP.

25-year old righty James McDonald will start the year in AAA but I don’t expect him to be there too long. He pitched in 45 games (4 starts) for the Dodgers last season and he was 5-5 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2010: A

37-year old righty Ramon Ortiz will be the Dodgers’ #5 starter when the 2010 season begins. He earned the job with his fine pitching this spring. In 6 games (1 start) for the Dodgers this spring, Ortiz is 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He has only walked 4 batters in 14 2/3 innings this spring while whiffing 19 batters which is pretty impressive. Ortiz last pitched in the majors in 2007 with the Twins & Rockies. He has pitched in 258 games (210 starts) in his nine years in the majors and he is 84-80 with a 4.90 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. It will be interesting to see how well Ortiz pitches in 2010 for the Dodgers.

UPDATE: (4/2/2010) It appears that Ramon Ortiz will not be in the starting rotation for the Dodgers in 2010. He will likely net a bullpen job as 26-year old righty knuckleballer Charlie Haeger has now been named the #5 starter for the Dodgers. Haeger pitched in 6 games (3 starts) for the Dodgers in 2010 and he was 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP.