Starting catcher Russell Martin will miss the next 4-6 weeks due to a groin injury. The Dodgers will go with 28-year old righty swinging A.J. Ellis as the starting catcher until Martin is ready to return to action. Ellis played in 8 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 1 for 10 (.100 avg, .200 OPS) with 1 RBI. He was good in AAA last season playing in 90 games in which he was 89 of 283 (.314 avg, .813 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 0 homers and 39 RBIs. Brad Ausmus will serve as Ellis’ backup until Martin is ready to return then he will back him up. Losing Martin will hurt the Dodgers as he is a good all around player.

The Dodgers have signed 37-year old lefty swinging outfielder Garret Anderson to a minor league deal. Anderson played in 135 games for the Braves last season and he was 133 of 496 (.268 avg, .705 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 13 homers and 61 RBIs. He has now played in 2,148 games in his major league career and he is 2,501 of 8,485 (.295 avg, .790 OPS) with 1,076 runs scored, 285 homers, 1,353 RBIs and 79 stolen bases. This was a excellent signing for the Dodgers as Anderson should give them a lethal bat off the bench for a nice price.

27-year old lefty swinging Andre’ Ethier stepped up big time for the Dodgers last season especially in the power numbers. Ethier played in 160 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 162 of 596 (.272 avg, .869 OPS) with 92 runs scored, 31 homers, 106 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Ethier has a .291 career average but he changed his batting style last season to try to hit more homers so it will be interesting to see if he goes for the power or the average route in 2010. Ethier does need to improve his defense in 2010. Ethier made 7 errors in 158 games in RF for the Dodgers while showing below average range. Ethier had 6 assists in RF last season so his arm is so-so.

39-year old lefty swinging Brian Giles will battle for a backup job in the outfield this spring. Giles played in 61 games for the Padres last season and he was 43 of 225 (.191 avg, .548 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 2 homers and 23 RBIs. Giles is just one year removed from hitting .306 with a .854 OPS in 147 games for the Padres in 2008. If his knee is healthy he will have a good shot to win a bench job with the Dodgers this spring. Giles didn’t make any errors in 58 games in RF for the Padres last season while showing above average range. Giles still has a good throwing arm as he had 6 assists in only 58 games in RF last season.

33-year old righty swinging Reed Johnson played in 7 error-free games for the Cubs in RF last season but he showed poor range. Johnson also doesn’t have the arm to play much in RF for the Dodgers.

29-year old righty swinging Jason Repko will also try to make the team this spring. Repko 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. He also played in 110 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 109 of 393 (.277 avg, .800 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 16 homers, 47 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. Repko played in 3 error-free games in RF for the Dodgers last season while showing poor range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RF IN 2010: B

25-year old righty swinging Matt Kemp had a true breakout season for the Dodgers in 2009 and they hope he can improve even more in 2010. Kemp played in 159 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 180 of 606 (.297 avg, .842 OPS) with 97 runs scored, 26 homers, 101 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. The sky is the limit for Kemp with a bat in his hands as he can literally do it all. Kemp played in 158 games in CF for the Dodgers last season and he only made 2 errors while showing slightly below average range. Kemp does have a outstanding throwing arm as he had 14 assists last season for the Dodgers.

33-year old righty swinging Reed Johnson will likely be the top backup in CF for the Dodgers in 2010. He played in 42 games for the Cubs in CF last season and he made 1 error while showing poor range. Johnson did have 3 assists while is a lot for only 42 games in CF.

32-year old switch hitting Alfredo Amezaga will also challenge for a job backing up Kemp in CF. He played in 27 games for the Marlins last season and he was 15 of 69 (.217 avg, .528 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 5 RBIs. Amezaga is a career hitter of .251 with a .652 OPS in 544 major league games so don’t expect miracles out of him if he makes the team out of spring training. But, he does have some speed and he is very versatile in the field so it wouldn’t be a shock if he makes the Dodgers. Amezaga played in 14 error-free games in CF for the Marlins last season while showing good range there.

25-year old Xavier Paul will likely start the year in the minors but if he is healthy he could get his chance sometime in 2010 with the Dodgers. Paul played in 11 games for the Dodgers last year and he was 3 of 14 (.214 avg, .813 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. Paul also played in 31 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 38 of 116 (.328 avg, .878 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 2 homers, 16 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Paul played in 1 error free game for the Dodgers in CF last season.

29-year old righty swinging Jason Repko played 3 error-free games for the Dodgers in CF last season while showing poor range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CF IN 2010: A

The Dodgers hope that 37-year old righty swinging Manny Ramirez will forget about his suspension of last season and give them at least 140 games in 2010. Ramirez played in 104 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 102 of 352 (.290 avg, .949 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 19 homers and 63 RBIs. Ramirez has played in 2,207 games in his major league career and he has a .313 batting average with a 1.002 OPS so the Dodgers expect him to hit better than he did last season. But will a drug free Manny Ramirez still be productive as he didn’t play great upon his return from his suspension? Only time will tell. Ramirez played in 101 games in LF last season for the Dodgers and he made 4 errors while showing pitiful range there. He did have 3 assists last season but his arm isn’t what it used to be.

33-year old righty swinging Reed Johnson will back up Ramirez in LF and likely serve as his defensive replacement late in games. Johnson played in 65 games for the Cubs last season and he was 42 of 165 (.255 avg, .742 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 4 homers, 22 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Johnson has a career batting average of .282 in 784 games so the Dodgers expect him to hit better than he did in 2009 for the Cubs. Johnson didn’t make any errors in 10 games in LF for the Cubs last season but he showed below average range. Johnson is a natural CF so look for his range to improve in 2010 for the Dodgers.

29-year old righty swinging Jason Repko is still around for the Dodgers. He played in 2 error-free games in LF for the Dodgers last season and he showed outstanding range. He will be a longshot to make the Dodgers’ opening day roster.

21-year old lefty swinging Andrew Lambo is one of the better prospects in the Dodgers’ system but they will likely take it slow with him. Lambo played in 130 games in AA-ball last season and he was 126 of 492 (.256 avg, .717 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 11 homers, 61 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Lambo has now played in 315 games in his three years in the minors and he is 338 of 1,181 (.286 avg, .805 OPS) with 173 runs scored, 34 homers, 184 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LF IN 2010: B