Lookout For New-Look Dodgers

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 17, 1999 / 8:11 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

Kevin Malone spent the off-season retooling the Los Angeles Dodgers with a couple big trades and the commitment of millions of dollars to players -- mostly to Kevin Brown.

Now, the general manager says, the real fun begins.

"The organization was in a place where we needed to make a lot of changes," he said. "The last five months, there's been a lot of hard work. Right now, the light at the end of the tunnel is growing larger and larger. We'll soon be involved in actual baseball."

Pitchers and catchers report Thursday to Vero Beach, Fla., for perhaps the final spring training at Dodgertown, with the rest of the team due next Wednesday. The exhibition schedule opens March 5.

"My sanctuary is the game itself," Malone said. "I was one of those guys who always loved to practice because I loved the game. I'm getting excited, knowing that the beginning of the season and the coming together of what I believe is a championship club is getting closer.

"We've positioned ourself on paper to be a championship club. Now, we've got to work real hard and get it done on the field."

The new faces will be plentiful, headed by manager Davey Johnson, hired by Malone last October. No team of Johnson's has ever finished lower than second place.

In addition, there's Brown, a 33-year-old right-hander who signed a record $105 million, seven-year contract to anchor the starting rotation, a deal that caused many major-league owners to lambaste the Dodgers' new owner, Rupert Murdoch.

Other new faces include catcher Todd Hundley, center fielder Devon White, and relievers Alan Mills, Mel Rojas and Greg Cadaret.

Gone are catchers Charles Johnson and Tom Prince, infielder-outfielder Bobby Bonilla, relievers Mark Guthrie and Scott Radinsky, and outfielder Roger Cedeno.

And that doesn't even count the in-season transformation last year, which included the departure of catcher Mike Piazza and the arrival of catcher Gary Sheffield.

In all, just 17 players remain from the 40 on the roster at the start of spring training a year ago. Malone thinks the off-season moves have made the Dodgers, who were 83-79 in 1998, World Series title contenders.

"I feel very good about this team. I'm excited," he said. "I'm energized by the potential. What we'e got to do is make sure our focus is clear, come together and learn, get to know each other, get on the same page as soon as possible."

More deals could come. There are six legitimate contenders for five berths in the starting rotation: Brown, Chan Ho Park, Darren Dreifort, Ismael Valdes, Dave Mlicki and Carlos Perez -- the only left-hander.

And there are two seasoned shortstops: Mark Grudzielanek and Jose Vizcaino.

"I believe competition is healthy," Malone said. "We have a surplus as far as starting pitchers and middle infielders is concerned. To me, that's a strength. We'll see how things progress in spring training.

"Your ears are always open. Every day you look for ways to improve your club. I don't anticipate any major deals. I don't feel right now there are a lot of question marks as far as this club is concerned."

Malone also refuted a recent newspaper report that outfielder Raul Mondesi, listed in last year's media guide as weighing 215 pounds, had ballooned to 275.

"That was erroneous; he left here the other day at 240," Malone said. "He's 15 or 20 pounds heavier than where he'll be on opening day."