Josh Towers Released, Rafael Furcal Returning?

Josh Towers was released after opting out of his minor league contract upon having not been called up. He follows the lead of Luis Ayala.

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Rafael Furcal could return Sunday, which would greatly improve the Dodger defense.

"Only thing we're concerned about is stuff that may surprise his body, quick moves whether it's at shortstop or out of the box," Torre said. "One game is certainly not enough to get his timing, he'll have to get that here."

The Dodgers didn't want to send Furcal to Triple-A Albuquerque or Class A Inland Empire because the team can control the game action in extended spring training, potentially giving Furcal a look at as many or as few situations as it deems necessary.

Who Should Replace Vicente Padilla?

With the news that Vicente Padilla has been sidelined with a strained forearm and will hit the 15-day DL, the question becomes who will replace him in the Dodgers rotation? Who will Joe Torre and Rick Honeycutt deem worthy enough to replace our venerable Number 4 1/2 starter?

First, confirmation from the Dodgers that Padilla is Padidown (/wah wah), and a fairly troubling quote from Vicente:

"I can't even throw right now," Padilla said, declining to speculate on the severity of the injury.

The choices at their disposal, currently up in the bigs:

• Ramon Ortiz
• Jon Link, recalled to replace Padilla
• Carlos Monasterios

A few more choices, currently at AAA:

• James McDonald
• Scott Elbert
• Josh Lindblom
• Josh Towers
  

Eric Stults, where for art thou, Eric Stults? Oh yeah, you're turning Japanese. And Jeff Weaver, who would have undoubtedly gotten the spot-start, is DL'd with a bad back.

Two excellent rundowns of the options come from Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, who fears we'll see Josh Towers (who I had thankfully forgotten about), and Eric Stephen at True Blue L.A., who prognosticates Elbert could get the call. One thing that's for sure: we're all just hoping it's not Ramon Ortiz.

If I were to guess, and that's all it really is, a guess, I would rank these gentlemen, in likelihood of getting the start:

1. Ramon Ortiz
2. Josh Towers
3. Scott Elbert
4. Josh Lindblom
5. James McDonald
6. Link/Monasterios
   

Whoever it is (and there is the possibility of rain in New York or Torre deciding to run a 4-man rotation for a short amount of time) the chosen one only needs to realistically go 5 innings or into the 6th, and not get completely shellacked.

I'm fairly positive they all can do it once or twice, but I'll admit it, I'm terrified of a Ramon Ortiz start. Josh Towers doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside either, but they're both veterans, so it will more than likely be one of them getting the ball handed to them in New York next week.

Still, my vote, if I had one, would go to James McDonald. Then Scott Elbert. Somehow, I think Josh Towers would get the bronze from me. I guess it's because he kind of reminds me of Dave Bush. And that is........well, it's something alright.

Dodgers' 5th Rotation Spot

Ned Colletti is looking for a "bona fide No. 5 starter", according to an interview he gave to Buster Olney. Colletti is of course overlooking the fact that a number 5 starter really just needs to be able to eat innings and not crap himself every time he steps on the mound. Any upside from that number 5 starter is a bonus, as the spot is usually just a revolving door of mediocrity and washed-up old veterans.

Especially, when it comes to the Dodgers, of the "washed-up old veterans" variety.

Ned, if you can't feel comfortable letting James McDonald, Charlie Haeger, Scott Elbert, Eric Stults, or some truly crappy veteran you, for some strange reason, decided to pick up off of the scrap heap, hold down the number 5 spot, then you really need to give up your job.

It's not like we can go out and acquire a Johan Santana or even an Oliver Perez, someone who has been more than a number 5. We have the classic set-up of number 5 starter candidates: young guys, rookies, and old messes like Russ Ortiz, Ramon Ortiz, and Josh Towers.

Oh, and I'd be down to see you not be GM regardless of who is the number five starter. Who's with me?

Dodgers Sign 9 To Minor League Deals

• Doug Mientkiewicz
• Angel Berroa
• Josh Towers
• Justin Miller
• Luis Ayala
• Prentice Redman
• Juan Perez
• John Lindsey
• Francisco Felix

All 9 have received an invite to Spring Training.

The first 7 have been mentioned here already, but the last two are new names.

Lindsey, 32, spent time in AA and AAA with the Dodgers between 2007 and 2008.

Felix, 26, has spent his entire pro career in the states in the Dodgers organization, beginning in A ball in 2006 and reaching AAA in 2008. He split 2009 between AA Chattanooga and AAA Albuquerque. Over his 5 seasons of minor league baseball, including time spent in the Mexican League, Felix has K'd 8.7/9 IP with a WHIP of 1.37.

Dodgers Sign Josh Towers

To a minor-league deal worth $700,000.

Towers, 32, has pitched for Baltimore, Toronto, and the Yankees, as well as the minor-league affiliates of the Rockies and Nationals.

His career FIP is 4.83, and he has struck out 4.79/9 IP over his 9-year career.