Dodgers front office can get to work with sale approved

LOS ANGELES -- Frank McCourt has a lot to do now that baseball's owners have unanimously approved his agreement to become owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Getting a big bat should be one of his top priorities.

"We're going to find a guy that can hit," McCourt said at his introductory news conference Thursday -- one of many promises that have to be backed up for him to gain credibility.

There don't appear to be too many obvious options.

The Chicago White Sox have examined trading outfielder Magglio Ordonez, who has one year remaining on his contract.

The free-agent market doesn't offer much. Former Dodgers Eric Karros and Raul Mondesi are available, but they are not the players they once were.

General manager Dan Evans, whose future is uncertain, said following Thursday's news conference that he had spoken with a couple teams earlier in the day and looks forward to improving the club.

"I think some of your better deals sometimes are made in spring training," Evans said. "So we don't have any barrier precluding us from doing things."

Leadoff hitter Dave Roberts realizes the sale slowed the process of improvement.

"There is still an opportunity to do some things," he said. "Obviously, we expected for things to have happened a little quicker. I'm hopeful that some things will happen before the season starts."

The Dodgers were the best in baseball on the mound and the worst at the plate last season, recording a 3.16 team ERA but scoring only 574 runs.

They acquired outfielder Juan Encarnacion from the Florida Marlins last month. While Encarnacion hit .270 with 19 homers and 94 RBI during the season, he hit only .200 in the postseason and spent much of the World Series on the bench.

Bubba Trammell was signed as a free agent, but he figures to come off the bench.

"It'd still be nice to get that right-handed cleanup hitter. That's obviously something that's been missing the last couple of years. And hopefully that'll get done now," said the left handed-hitting Shawn Green, who hit a total 91 homers in 2001 and 2002 but only 19 last year while hampered by an injured shoulder.

Right-hander Jeff Weaver, acquired from the New York Yankees in the Kevin Brown deal last month, hopes now that McCourt has been approved as owner, changes will be made.

"I think everybody is waiting to see what offensive moves they make as far as getting another bat in here," he said. "I think they feel good about their pitching, considering how good they did last year. But if there are not trades made, we all understand what our jobs are and we'll deal with what we've got."