Bill Shaikin of the LA Times

Bill Shaikin of the LA Times was good enough to give me a few minutes and talk Dodgers baseball.


Baseball-Rumors: Clayton Kershaw, we heard his name mentioned in trade rumors but the Dodgers weren't willing to deal him. How good is this kid and will we see him with the Dodgers in 2008?

Bill Shaikin: The Dodgers were reluctant to deal Kershaw, but not unwilling. That said, they consider him one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. He'll probably start the season at Double-A. He could get to L.A. by September if he pitches well and the Dodgers have the need, but James McDonald would be the prospect more likely to pitch in L.A. next season.


Baseball-Rumors: How is Jason Schmidt coming along in his rehab? Is he expected to be ready for Spring Training?

Bill Shaikin: No one will know about Schmidt until spring training, no matter what he might do in offseason workouts. There isn't enough of a track record from his surgery. I'm not sure when he might pitch next season, but I would be stunned if he made the opening day roster.


Baseball-Rumors: How excited are the Dodgers to have Joe Torre as their manager?

Bill Shaikin: He's the highest-paid manager in the game. But Torre would be the first to tell you players win games, not managers.


Baseball-Rumors: The NL West has gone from being called the "NL Worst" just a few years ago, to being arguably the strongest division in baseball. What do you attribute that to?

Bill Shaikin: The AL Central is the strongest division right now. But the NL West is competitive because every team has excellent starting pitching -- Peavy/Young/Maddux in San Diego, Cain/Lincecum/Zito in San Francisco, Webb/Haren/maybe Randy Johnson in Arizona, Francis/Jimenez/Cook in Colorado, Penny/Billingsley/Lowe in L.A.


Baseball-Rumors: Veteran outfielder, and free agent, Luis Gonzalez has made it known that he would like to return to the Dodgers, is there any interest from the Dodgers in bringing him back or are they moving in another direction?

Bill Shaikin: There's no interest from the Dodgers in bringing him back.