Tracy Decides He’ll Do Right by Green

VERO BEACH, Fla. —  With no trade in sight and no desire to alienate their cleanup hitter, the Dodgers ended Shawn Green’s trial as a first baseman Monday and will return him to right field today.

“Due to the offensive load Shawn has to carry, having him where he’s 100% comfortable is extremely important,” Manager Jim Tracy said.

Green had agreed to work out at first base to give the Dodgers the option to acquire an outfielder as well as a first baseman in their search for a big bat. General Manager Paul DePodesta said the decision did not indicate a trade for a first baseman was imminent, although he added that a first baseman usually is easier to acquire than an outfielder.

“In general, yes,” he said. “In the next three weeks, I don’t know.”

DePodesta spoke Monday with New York Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman. Although Jon Lieber aggravated a groin injury over the weekend, a challenge to an already fragile Yankee rotation, DePodesta said Cashman did not appear to be interested in trading for one of the Dodgers’ surplus starters at this time.

“He seemed pretty comfortable with what they have,” DePodesta said.

The Dodgers’ opening-day first baseman figures to be Robin Ventura, with Paul Lo Duca playing there on days he does not catch. The Dodgers also are looking at nonroster invitees Olmedo Saenz and Luis Garcia.

Garcia homered for the second consecutive day Monday and is eight for 13 this spring. Garcia, 25, hit the decisive home run for Mexico in the game that eliminated the U.S. in last fall’s Olympic qualifying tournament, but he has yet to play in the majors and hit .215 with seven home runs at triple-A Buffalo last year.

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The Dodgers open their season in 20 days, and second baseman Alex Cora said Monday he had “no idea right now” whether he would be able to play.

Cora, seven weeks removed from suffering a broken right forearm in a winter league game, is expected to start facing live pitching this week. If he cannot progress quickly enough to get sufficient at-bats in spring games, the Dodgers could send him on a minor league rehabilitation assignment at the start of the season and open with Jolbert Cabrera at second base.

“I got hurt playing winter ball, but it’s a plus because I’m still in baseball shape,” Cora said. “Hopefully it won’t take me long.”

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Lo Duca was ejected in the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ 11-9 victory over the New York Mets after debating a call.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been thrown out of a spring training game,” he said. “I didn’t think that was possible.”

In protest, Lo Duca removed his mask and chest protector, put the items on the ground behind home plate and walked away.

“Something stupid I probably shouldn’t have done,” he said. “If you’re going to get thrown out, you might as well get your money’s worth.”

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The flags at Dodgertown flew at half-staff Monday in memory of Roxie Campanella, widow of Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella. She died Sunday at 77.... Pitcher Darren Dreifort was excused from camp until Friday so he could be at his wife’s side when her father undergoes open-heart surgery.