Dodgers Trade Young

The Los Angeles Dodgers traded outfielder Delwyn Young to the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Tony Jackson of the LA Daily News. The Dodgers will receive two players to be named later, most likely minor-leaguers. Young is a switch-hitter who was a victim of the Dodgers' crowded outfield. He was out of minor-league options, but a troubled elbow gave the Dodgers time to sort out the situation by putting him on the disabled list. Young was designated for assignment just yesterday.

Opening Day: Oh Dog! Hudson Leads Way as Dodgers Pound Giants

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the rival San Francisco Giants 11-1, their first game at Dodger Stadium this season. Orlando Hudson led the way as he hit for the cycle, the first Dodger to hit for the cycle since Wes Parker in 1970. First Hudson hit an infield-single in the first inning, then homered to put the Dodgers up 1-0 in the third. Later Hudson hit a one-run double in a six-run fourth, then tripled to get himself the rare cycle in the sixth inning. Hudson finished the game with four hits, 2 RBI's, and three runs scored. Andre Ethier did his best to catch up to the red-hot Hudson by hitting two home runs and collecting four RBI's. Russell Martin and Rafael Furcal both knocked in two runs, and Matt Kemp's single gives him an eight-game hitting streak. Manny Ramirez doubled and scored a run. Chad Billingsley pitched a gem to get the win, allowing just one run on five hits while fanning 11 with no walks. Travis Ishikawa had the Giants' only RBI, and veteran Randy Johnson was lit up, allowing seven runs in less than four innings of work.

Delwyn Young was designated for assignment in order to make room on the 40-man roster. The Dodgers have 10 days to release him, trade him, or place him on waivers. If Young can clear waivers, he can stay with the organization in the minor-leagues. However, if placed on waivers, another team claim and take him.

Blake DeWitt was sent to Triple-A Albuquerque in order to play regularly and get more at-bats. The Dodgers called up Juan Castro to take his place in the roster.

Dodger News: Rotation Shuffle, Young Has Interest

The Los Angeles Dodgers are just one week into the season and already they are shuffling their pitching rotation. Eric Stults is being put into the rotation as James McDonald is moved to the bullpen. Stults joined the team after Hiroki Kuroda hit the DL, pitching more than five innings of one-run ball yesterday against Arizona. McDonald had a disastrous outing, giving up five runs in less than three innings against the same D-Backs. The Dodgers don't need a fifth starter for a few days with the off-day Tuesday, but will need one on Sunday against Colorado. That game will be a "bullpen" game, in which McDonald will pitch 2-3 innings, with the rest of the bullpen pitching in relief. Manager Joe Torre can use the bullpen like that since the Monday after is an off-day.

Delwyn Young has interest from other clubs, and could be traded by the end of the week. Young is currently on the disabled list and is playing in Triple-A Albuquerque to rehab a troubled elbow. Young is out of minor-league options and lacks a solid glove and versatility, making the club reluctant to put him on the roster. He is a switch-hitter, and has become an adept pinch-hitter. While with the Isotopes, Young caught the attention of scouts from Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.

Roster Moves: Belisario Joins Team

The Los Angeles Dodgers made last minute changes to their 25-man roster before their win against San Diego, including the promotion of Ronald Belisario to the major-league club. Belisario was an afterthought when he joined the club in Spring Training, even missing time due to visa troubles in his native Venezuela. The Dodgers also purchased the contracts of minor-leaguers Will Ohman and Doug Mientkiewicz, bringing them up to the big-leagues. To make room for the promotions, LA put Claudio Vargas on the 60-day disabled list and Delwyn Young on the 15-day DL. Greg Miller was released in order to make room on the 40-man roster.

Dodgers News: No A for Effort for Kershaw, Progress with Ohman, and Weaver Gets More Innnings

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Oakland Athletics 9-5, their 18th loss of the spring. Clayton Kershaw got roughed up for seven runs, six earned, in four innings, and Ramon Troncoso gave up two runs on four hits in one inning. Guillermo Mota pitched a perfect inning, and Jonathan Broxton had a scoreless outing. Andre Ethier had a double, RBI, and run scored, and Manny Ramirez had a hit, walk, and run scored. Matt Kemp had a two-run double, and Rafael Furcal doubled as well.

Jeff Weaver pitched in a minor-league game instead his scheduled appearance against Oakland. Weaver is going to be used as a long-reliever and needs to stretch out the number of innings he pitches.

The Dodgers are expecting progress in negotiations with free-agent LHP Will Ohman, so much so that he could be ready to pitch by Opening Day. Ohman tried out for the Dodgers in a simulated game yesterday.

James McDonald is the favorite to become the club's fifth starter. McDonald has a spring ERA of 4.70, giving up 8 runs in 15 innings.

Jason Schmidt, Delwyn Young, and Claudio Vargas all will start the season on the Disabled List.

This was the last game the Dodgers will play at their new Spring Training complex, Camelback Ranch.

Dodgers News: Hitting Gallery, Injury Bug, and Manny's in Left

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Milwuakee Brewers 12-8, their 14th loss of the spring. Andre Ethier had 3 hits and three RBI's, and Orlando Hudson had two hits and a run scored. Russell Martin had a two-run double, and Manny Ramirez had a hit and scored a run. Eric Stults struggled, giving up four runs on three hits and three walks in less than three innings. Claudio Vargas also struggled, surrendering four runs in just one inning of work. Not one of the Dodgers' pitchers had a scoreless outing, giving up a total of five home runs.

More Dodgers have entered the infirmary. Jason Repko left last night's game after feeling a twinge in his left hamstring. A.J. Ellis left the complex after suffering from flu-like symptoms. Delwyn Young's right shoulder flared up, but an MRI showed no damage. Young had his elbow surgically repaired during the offseason.

Manny Ramirez returned to left field for the first time since aggravating his left hamstring.

Dodgers News: Surprise Surprise, Lindblom Blossoms, and Manny Might Be Back

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Kansas City Royals 9-4, despite scoring three runs in the first inning. Claudio Vargas started his first game for LA, pitching three innings and only allowing one run on three hits and two walks. Eric Milton gave up 8 runs, including a six-run fifth inning, but just one of those runs was earned. James Loney, Delwyn Young, and Blake DeWitt each had an RBI in the first, and DeWitt had three hits.

Josh Lindblom had a good debut for the big-league club after being promoted. He pitched two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out three.

Manny Ramirez may be close to returning to the lineup. Manny could DH in Monday's game against the Angels. He is currently healing a tight left-hamstring which he aggravated in Sunday's game.

Dodgers News: Homers Abound, Levine Takes a Whack, and Manny Gets Ready for Left

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 7-3, their ninth win of the spring. Russell Martin had a home run, 2 runs scored, and two RBI's, and Juan Pierre had two hits, including double, two stolen bases, and scored a run. Delwyn Young had a solo home run, and Valentino Pascucci had a two-run blast. Mark Loretta had a double. Clayton Kershaw had a decent outing, giving up two runs in 3-and-two-thirds innings and striking out five. Ramon Troncoso had perfect one-and-one-third innings.

Ken Levine called the game on the Dodgers' radio network. Levine is one of six candidates competing for the TV play-by-play job on games outside the NL West. The hole was created after the Dodgers announced Charlie Steiner would only broadcast on the radio. Steiner previously did play-by-play for Vin Scully, who can not call games east of the Rocky Mountains. The list of candidates can be seen here.

Eric Threets left the game after pitching just one-third of an inning. Threets suffered an injury to his left shouler. Doug Mientkiewicz left the game after straining a quad muscle.

Joe Beimal is expected to sign with a team soon, according to ESPN. Aside from the Dodgers, Beimal has gotten interest from Colorado, San Diego, and Oakland. Beimal pitched the last three seasons in LA, and had an ERA of 2.02 with a 5-1 record last season.

The Brewers were asked to use the DH in today's game so Manny Ramirez could get at-bats. However, Milwaukee denied their requests, and the pitcher-hitter rule was used. Manny is instead penciled in for tomorrow's game against Colorado as the left-fielder.

Dodgers News: Manny's Debut, Wade Gets In, and Papelbon Won't Stop

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Texas Rangers 4-3, their eighth win of the spring. Manny Ramirez made his Spring Training debut, getting a hit, run, and two walks. Andre Ethier and Delwyn Young both had a hit and RBI, and Orlando Hudson had a hit and scored two runs. Brad Ausmus had a double. Chad Billingsley had a rough outing, giving up two homers in his first inning of work, resulting in three runs. James McDonald pitched two scoreless innings, but walked four batters. Jeff Weaver, Guillermo Mota, and Corey Wade combined to throw three scoreless innings, allowing only hit and striking out three between them.

Corey Wade pitched a perfect inning in his spring debut. Wade was suffering with a sore shoulder, keeping him sidelined for a few weeks from pitching in any games.

Valentino Pascucci returned to the Dodgers after playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He struck out in his only at-bat. Italy went 1-2 in the WBC, ultimately being eliminated by Venezuela.

Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon continued to explain his metaphor comparing Manny Ramirez to cancer. He likened Jason Bay, Manny's replacement, to chemotherapy. Ramirez was sent to LA from the Red Sox at the trade deadline in a three-way trade, and Bay was sent to Boston from Pittsburgh. Papelbon has drawn ire from the media for comparing Ramirez to cancer in an interview with Esquire.

Dodgers News: Cubs, Cuts, and No Manny Yet

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-4, improving their Spring record to 5-4. Randy Wolf threw three scoreless innings, and Jeff Weaver gave up two hits and a walk but no runs in two innings. Doug Mientkiewicz had his second home run in as many days, and Brad Ausmus had an RBI. Delwyn Young hit a two-run double. Juan Castro, Matt Kemp, and James Loney each had a hit and a run.

The Dodgers cut several players from the Spring Training roster. Greg Miller, Justin Orenduff, Ronald Belisario, Yhency Brazoban, and Jacobo Meque were all sent to minor-league camp.

Blake DeWitt played another game at shortstop, with Mientkiewicz starting the game at third-base.

Mark Sweeney retired from baseball, and joined the Dodgers as an assistant coach. Sweeney will work with players during pre-game workouts in the regular season, serve as a Spring Training instructor, and act as a liaison between the advance scout and the Dodgers, including for series preparations. Sweeney joined the club in 2007 in a trade with the Giants, and hit .154 last season. He is the second all-time pinch-hitter with 175 pinch-hits. Sweeney joins all-time pinch-hitting leader Lenny Harris and third-place Manny Mota to give the Dodgers a coaching staff with the three greatest pinch-hitters of all-time.

Manny Ramirez is expected to play his first game on Thursday in an exhibition against a World Baseball Classic team to be determined.