Repko Out Until All-Star Break

Grady Little's predictions of a long setback for Jason Repko are starting to materialize, with the Daily News reporting Repko will likely be out until July.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Jason Repko, the speedy scrapper who was slated to be the Dodgers' fourth outfielder this season, probably will need surgery to repair the left hamstring he injured running down a ball in the gap in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Baltimore. It would likely sideline him through the All-Star break.

...[I]t is more bad luck for Repko, who missed 2 1/2 months last season when he landed too hard on his right ankle after attempting to make a leaping catch at the center-field wall. He also strained his right groin chasing a fly ball earlier this spring, but that injury didn't keep him out nearly as long as it was expected to.

This time, he doesn't figure to escape so easily.

Meanwhile, Repko's absence probably will open up a spot on the Opening Day roster for Larry Bigbie, the non-roster veteran who missed most of last season with St. Louis because of a hernia. Bigbie, who is hitting .383 for the Dodgers this spring, theoretically would slide into the one open spot left on the club's 40-man roster. If Repko is placed on the 60-day disabled list instead of the 15-day - something that appears likely if the vague prognosis Little gave reporters holds true - that would open a second 40-man spot that probably would go to reliever Rudy Seanez.

Seanez, a veteran right-hander who has said he almost certainly will retire if he doesn't make the club, pitched a perfect eighth inning against the Orioles. He has allowed no runs on two hits over 8 1/3 innings this spring.

Bigbie seems like a worthy add to the team given the circumstances. But having to dig so low in the dregs of the barrel to save Seanez from retirement seems pretty scary.

How come the injury bug has hit us, rather than the seniors' league team up north?

Value Over Replacement Bigbie?

From Jacob Burch at MLB Trade Rumors (or MLB Trade Rumours, as they're known in Canada):

Healthy Larry Bigbie as Trade Bait

The biggest story so far out of Dodgers' Spring Training is the resurgence of Larry Bigbie. In two and a half games, Bigbie is 5-5 with 6 RBIs and two HRs (three including an intra-squad game). While the sampling size is extremely miniscule, it's enough to show that he's healthy and draw interest from scouts in the stands.

Bigbie, a former first-round draft pick for Baltimore, signed a minor-league contract early in February which includes an opt-out clause if the Dodgers keep him in the minors. Unless Marlon Anderson's elbow injury creates a hole for Bigbie on the opening day roster, he could become trade bait for any club looking for a left-handed OF bat off the bench.

Trading a guy with power seems odd for the Dodgers, but that opt-out clause pretty much guarantees that short of winning a roster spot, Bigbie's bolting.

Robles Shipped, Bigbie Equipped

The Dodgers' website reports that Oscar Robles is returning to the Mexican League, while Larry Bigbie has been invited to Spring Training camp.

Robles played with the Dodgers in 2005 and 2006, playing in 110 games in his first season (.272BA) but only 29 games last year (.152BA). He spent most of the year in Las Vegas with the 51's. Robles sounded pretty classy on the way out, saying "I just want to thank the Dodgers for giving me the chance to play in the Major Leagues."

Bigbie is known for spending time on the DL, having played spottily for the Orioles since coming up in 2001. He peaked in 2003 with a .303 batting average and 9 home runs, followed that up with a .280BA and 15 home runs in 2004, but then settled down around a .230BA, leading him to be dealt to the Rockies midway through 2005. He made some appearances with the Cardinals last year but only batted .240 with no HRs. Not exactly the power bat we were looking for, but what the heck, it's only an invitation.