23-year old lefty swinging Dee Gordon is going to be the starting SS for the Dodgers in 2012. Gordon played in 56 games for the Dodgers last year and he was 68 of 224 (.304 avg, .686 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 0 homers, 11 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. He also played in 73 games in A+AAA-ball last year and he was 99 of 299 (.331 avg, .776 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 0 homers, 24 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. Gordon had 10 errors in 54 games at SS last year while showing off pretty awful range. The Dodgers will forgive Gordon’s iron mitt if he provides a big time spark at the top of the batting order in 2012.

28-year old righty swinging Luis Cruz is in camp trying to win a job on the Dodgers’ bench. Cruz played in 83 games in AAA-ball and Mexico last year and he was 101 of 339 (.298 avg, .828 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 16 homers, 52 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He last played in the majors back in 2010 with the Brewers. Cruz has played in 56 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 34 of 154 (.221 avg, .535 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 0 homers, 6 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

26-year old switch-hitting Lance Zawadzki played in 91 games in AAA-ball for the Royals last year and he was 76 of 326 (.233 avg, .671 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 8 homers, 40 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. His only major league experience came back in 2010 with the Padres. Zawadzki played in 20 games for the Padres in 2010 and he was 7 for 35 (.200 avg, .557 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 0 homers, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base.

Justin Sellers played in 19 games for the Dodgers at SS last year and he had 1 error while showing below average range. He can also handle playing 2B.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012: B

The Dodgers signed 34-year old righty swinging Mark Ellis to take over as the starting 2B in 2012. Ellis played in 132 games for the A’s & Rockies last year and he was 119 of 480 (.248 avg, .634 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 7 homers, 41 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,126 games in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 1,087 of 4,091 (.266 avg, .728 OPS) with 567 runs scored, 92 homers, 459 RBIs and 69 stolen bases. Ellis only had 3 errors last year in 123 games at 2B while showing out of this world range. Ellis will improve the Dodgers’ infield D, while also giving them a pesky bat.

24-year old righty swinging Ivan DeJesus comes into this season as the Dodgers’ #26 prospect according to Baseball America. DeJesus played in 17 games for the Dodgers last year and he was 6 for 32 (.188 avg, .423 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers and 1 RBI. He also played in 100 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 120 of 387 (.310 avg, .820 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 8 homers, 59 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. DeJesus had 1 error in 11 games at 2B for the Dodgers last year while showing awful range. DeJesus will likely start the 2012 season in AAA.

26-year old righty swinging Justin Sellers is a longshot to make the Dodgers out of spring training. Sellers played in 36 games for the Dodgers last year and he was 25 of 123 (.203 avg, .583 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 1 homer, 13 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Sellers also played in 89 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 82 of 270 (.304 avg, .937 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 14 homers, 49 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Sellers didn’t have any errors in 12 games at 2B last year while showing pretty good range.

Jerry Hairston and Adam Kennedy are veterans that will add zip off the bench for the Dodgers in 2012. Hairston played in 30 games at 2B last year and he had 3 errors while showing pretty awful range. Kennedy played in 34 games at 2B last year and he had 1 error while also showing awful range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012: B

27-year old lefty swinging James Loney needs to step up with the bat in 2012. Loney played in 158 games for the Dodgers last year and he was 153 of 531 (.288 avg, .755 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 12 homers, 65 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 782 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 787 of 2,736 (.288 avg, .778 OPS) with 323 runs scored, 67 homers, 418 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. Loney is a solid defensive 1B as he only had 5 errors in 150 games there for the Dodgers last year. The Dodgers need more HRs and RBIs out of Loney in 2012.

36-year old lefty swinging Adam Kennedy will be playing all over the infield for the Dodgers in 2012. He will likely be Loney’s top backup in 2012. Kennedy only had 2 errors inn 36 games at 1B last year for the Mariners and he has good range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: C

The Dodgers have four catchers competing for work behind the plate. 30-year old righty swinging A.J. Ellis seems to have a slight edge heading into spring training. He played in 31 games for the Dodgers last year and he was 23 for 85 (.271 avg, .769 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 2 homers and 11 RBIs. Ellis didn’t have any errors in 29 games behind the plate for the Dodgers last year but he did have 2 passed balls. Ellis threw out 2 of 15 (13.3%) base stealers last year and Dodgers’ pitchers had a 3.61 ERA with him behind the plate.

35-year old righty swinging Matt Treanor will try to win the starting job this spring. Treanor played in 72 games for the Rangers & Royals last year and he was 42 for 196 (.214 avg, .628 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 3 homers, 22 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 432 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 263 of 1,169 (.225 avg, .623 OPS) with 109 runs scored, 16 homers, 119 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Treanor only had 4 errors and 2 passed balls in 72 games behind the plate last year. He threw out 11 of 56 (19.6%) base stealers last year and Royals & Rangers’ pitchers had a 4.52 ERA with him behind the dish.

33-year old switch-hitting Josh Bard will also had a shot for a big role on the Dodgers in 2012. Bard played in 26 games for the Mariners last year and he was 17 for 81 (.210 avg, .589 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers and 11 RBIs. He has now played in 586 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 452 for 1,778 (.254 avg, .705 OPS) with 162 runs scored, 39 homers, 220 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Bard had 2 errors and 0 passed balls last year in 25 games behind the plate for the Mariners last year. He threw out 7 of 24 (29.2%) base stealers and Mariners’ pitchers had a 3.94 ERA with him behind the dish.

24-year old righty swinging catcher Tim Federowicz comes into this season as the Dodgers’ #10 prospect according to Baseball America. Federowicz came to the Dodgers last year in the Trayvon Robinson deal with the Mariners. He played in 7 games for the Dodgers last year and he was 2 for 13 (.154 avg, .466 OPS) with 1 RBI. He also played in 115 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 121 of 422 (.287 avg, .808 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 14 homers, 69 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Federowicz had 1 error and 1 passed ball in only 7 games behind the plate last year for the Dodgers. He threw out 2 of 5 (40%) base stealers and Dodgers’ pitchers had a 3.15 ERA with him behind the dish. He by far has the biggest upside of this quartet of catchers.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: D

The Los Angeles Dodgers are likely going to have a solid bullpen once again in 2012. Here is a look at how the bullpen stands as of right now for the 2012 season:

Closer: Javy Guerra: 26-year old righty Javy Guerra came out of nowhere to take over as the Dodgers’ closer. He pitched in 47 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year in his first taste of the majors and he was 2-2 with 21 saves, a 2.31 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He only gave up 37 hits in 46 2/3 innings while whiffing 38 batters, which are impressive numbers. But, he also walked 18 batters so he needs to improve his control a little bit. Guerra will have to hold off Kenley Jansen for the closer’s job this spring.

Set-Up Man: Kenley Jansen: 24-year old righty Kenley Jansen is a downright dominating reliever. He pitched in 51 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 2-1 with 5 saves, a 2.85 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Jansen has now pitched in 76 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Dodgers and he is 3-1 with 9 saves, a 2.12 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Jansen has only given up 42 hits in his first 80 2/3 innings of his major league career while whiffing 137 batters! Those are downright impressive numbers. But, Jansen has control issues as he has walked 41 batters so far in his major league career. Jansen is going to be the Dodgers’ closer in the near future, maybe even in 2012.

Righties: Mike MacDougal: 34-year old Mike MacDougal pitched in 69 games (0 starts) last year for the Dodgers and he was 3-1 with 1 save, a 2.05 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He has now pitched in 400 games (3 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 18-23 with 71 saves, a 3.94 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. The Dodgers hope that MacDougal will pitch as well as he did last year in 2012.

Todd Coffey: 31-year old Todd Coffey pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He has now pitched in 438 games (0 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 24-18 with 11 saves, a 4.08 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Look for Coffey to have a decent year for the Dodgers in 2012.

Matt Guerrier: 32-year old Matt Guerrier pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 4-3 with 1 save, a 4.07 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He has now pitched in 463 games (3 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 23-28 with 6 saves, a 3.46 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. The Dodgers hope that Guerrier pitches better in 2012.

Jamey Wright: 37-year old Jamey Wright pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last year and he was 2-3 with 1 save, a 3.16 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Wright has now pitched in 526 games (246 starts) in his first 16 years in the majors and he is 85-121 with 1 save, a 4.93 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Wright will have to look good this spring to make the Dodgers’ pen.

Josh Lindblom: 24-year old Josh Lindblom looked really sharp in his first taste of the majors last year for the Dodgers. He pitched in 27 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 1-0 with a 2.73 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Lindblom also pitched in 34 games (0 starts) in AA-ball last year and he was 1-3 with 17 saves, a 2.13 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He is going to have to fight for a bullpen job this spring despite looking good for the Dodgers last year.

Ramon Troncoso: 29-year old Ramon Troncoso didn’t look too good for the Dodgers last year. He worked in 18 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP. Troncoso has now pitched in 175 games (0 starts) in his first four years with the Dodgers and he is 8-8 with 6 saves, a 3.92 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Troncoso will need a strong spring to make the Dodgers’ bullpen in 2012.

Ronald Belisario: 29-year old Ronald Belisario has had off the field issues that have caused him to miss the last two years. He last pitched in 2009 for the Dodgers. He has pitched in 128 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 7-4 with 2 saves, a 3.36 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Belisario is likely going to start this year in AAA.

Lefties: Scott Elbert: 26-year old Scott Elbert finally started to show the Dodgers what he can do last year. He pitched in 47 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 0-1 with 2 saves, a 2.43 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Elbert has now pitched in 77 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 2-2 with 2 saves, a 4.37 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Look for Elbert to have another solid year for the Dodgers in 2012.

John Grabow: 33-year old John Grabow pitched in 58 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 3-1 with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 506 games (0 starts) in his first 9 years in the show and he is 24-19 with 6 saves, a 4.31 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Grabow will have a good shot of making the Dodgers’ pen when the 2012 season begins.

Alberto Castillo: 36-year old Alberto Castillo is going to try to win a job in the Dodgers’ pen this spring. Castillo pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the D-Backs last year and he was 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He has now pitched in 79 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 3-0 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.

Wil Ledezma: 31-year old Wil Ledezma pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays last year and he was 0-0 with a 15.00 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. He has now pitched in 192 games (40 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 15-25 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. Ledezma has always had a good arm, he just has never really learned how to pitch quite yet.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: B