National league

Sporting News, The, Jan 13, 2003

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS When 1B Greg Colbrunn signed with the Mariners, it further depleted the bench, a team strength the past four seasons, Without Colbrunn, IF Matt Williams--considered a backup to Craig Counsell at third base--becomes the top righthanded reserve. The rest of the bench is 1B Mark Grace, OFs David Dellucci and Quinton McCracken, another infielder and whichever catcher does not start.... The team is negotiating with newly acquired RHP Elmer Dessens on a multiyear deal. Dessens is eligible for arbitration, in which he would be expected to earn more than $3 million, and can be a free agent after the 2004 season.--Ed Price

ATLANTA BRAVES The team is looking over a list of available first basemen that includes Travis Lee, Lee Stevens and Olmedo Saenz, but money is tight and there's a good possibility the club will return to its Matt Franco-Julio Franco platoon. It also might move 3B Vinny Castilla to first base.... The club is hoping to catch lightning in a bottle again and resurrect a reliever's career. Last season, it was RHP Darren Holmes and LHP Chris Hammond. This year, LHP Chris Haney and RHPs Chris Fussell and Chris Spurling have been invited to camp with the hope that at least one of them can win a job and play a key role.--Bill Zack

CHICAGO CUBS If G.M. Jim Hendry has his way, 10 or 11 bona fide relievers will compete in spring training for six bullpen jobs. Two of the combatants will be RHPs Dave Veins and Rod Beck, who recently signed as free agents. The bullpen was a major weakness last season. Hendry also is hoping the experience of veterans Veres and LHP Mike Remlinger will be a help to youngsters RHPs Kyle Farnsworth and Juan Cruz.... Free-agent IF Ramon Martinez was signed tot his defense. He can play all four infield positions as well as the outfield. Look for him to back up 3B Mark Bellhorn and SS Alex Gonzalez.--Bruce Miles

CINCINNATI REDS Veteran RHP Pete Harnisch is a long shot to make the team as a nonroster player, but his successful return would add glue to a rotation that's still under construction. He also could help RHP Danny Graves, a close friend, complete the transition from closer to starter.... IF Wilton Guerrero is back as a nonroster player. Before being included in the July trade with the Marlins for RHP Ryan Dempster, Guerrero, a switch hitter, had 10 pinch hits. Manager Bob Boone's hope for a strong bench could be Guerrero's biggest advantage.--Mark Schmetzer

COLORADO ROCKIES The club is expected to sign IF Chris Stynes to fill the void at third base but won't try to promote him as anything more than a stopgap. Stynes, a career utility player, has a .493 average in 69 lifetime at-bats at Coors Field. He could bat leadoff. Even if Stynes signs, the club will continue pursuing IF Jose Hernandez, who could be used at second base.... OF Gabe Kapler believes he has repaired his complicated swing after extensive work at a friend's California baseball academy. Kapler is the fourth outfielder, hut the team loves his energy and hustle.--Troy E. Renck

FLORIDA MARLINS Upgrades to the bullpen and bench address a team weakness: losing late. Florida was 5-12 in extra-inning games last season, its bullpen ERA was 4.14, and its pinch bitters batted .207 with one home run. Former Braves RHP Tim Spooneybarger will bolster the bullpen, and OF Brian Banks, who had 19 homers at Class AAA Calgary in 2002, replaces OF Tim Raines as the go-to guy in clutch situations. The team also will have an extra position player on the bench now that it is carrying two catchers rather than three.--Clark Spencer

HOUSTON ASTROS The team still is hoping to make a deal for pitching help, but it hasn't received many offers for players such as OFs Daryle Ward and Richard Hidalgo and SS Adam Everett. The Astros are intent on trying to bring in another starter to compete for the fourth and fifth spots with LHPs Carlos Hernandez and Jeriome Robertson, RHPs Kirk Saarloos, Tim Redding and Brad Lidge, and others. Hernandez's name also has come up in trade talks, but the team still is hopeful he has fixed his shoulder problems and can return to the form he showed two years ago.--Jim Carley

LOS ANGELES DODGERS The team's winter workouts at Dodger Stadium are a proving ground for players trying to win jobs. CF Dove Roberts impressed the coaches last year, and 2B Joe Thurston is hoping to do the same this year. Thurston will be competing with Alex Cora for the starting job in spring training.... G.M. Dan Evans' main objective is to find a long reliever/spot starter for the bullpen, preferably a lefthander.... SS Cesar Izturis enters spring training as the starter, but some in the organization believe he would make a better second baseman. He also might have to stop switch hitting if his .200 lefthanded average doesn't improve.--Brian Dohn

MILWAUKEE BREWERS It will be interesting to see who hits third in the order. RF Jeffrey Hammonds batted .264 with 37 RBIs in the No. 3 spot last season, and LF Geoff Jenkins, an undisciplined hitter, is better suited to hit fifth. For 1B Richie Sexson to put up the numbers he is capable of, he needs protection from Hammonds and Jenkins.... G.M. Doug Melvin is looking for a starting catcher. If he finds one, Cs Javier Valentin and Robert Machado will battle for the No. 2 spot. If Melvin comes up empty, Machado probably will start. There have been discussions with the Expos about the availability of C Michael Barrett.--Emmett Prosser