DALLAS - The Dodgers' trade talks with the Texas Rangers no longer include Alfonso Soriano, who was traded to the Washington Nationals late Wednesday for outfielders Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge (CSUN) and a minor-league pitcher. Instead, those talks now center on Rangers outfielder Kevin Mench, who is arbitration-eligible for the first time after making just $345,000 last season.

It is believed the Rangers still are asking for Dodgers pitching prospect Jonathan Broxton. It isn't clear whether other players are involved, but Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti hinted Wednesday that the only untouchable among the Dodgers' large stable of promising minor-leaguers is top pitching prospect Chad Billingsley.

 

The Dodgers also continue to pursue a free-agent third baseman, with former American League batting champion Bill Mueller still at the top of their list. Also after Mueller are San Francisco and Pittsburgh, and it is believed both the Pirates and Dodgers have offered him two-year deals. The Dodgers probably have the edge because Mueller has past relationships with both Colletti, who was in the Giants' front office when Mueller played there, and new manager Grady Little, for whom Mueller played in Boston.

 

Colletti also has said he is looking for a left-handed reliever. The Dodgers are believed to have expressed interest in free-agent left-hander Dennys Reyes, who came up with them in 1997 before being sent to Cincinnati in the Jeff Shaw-Paul Konerko trade in July 1998.

 

Furcal arrives: Four days after reaching agreement with the Dodgers on a three-year, $39 million contract, Rafael Furcal was officially introduced on Wednesday as the Dodgers' new shortstop. The former National League Rookie of the Year donned jersey No. 15 over his gray suit and talked of the difficulty of leaving Atlanta after six solid seasons for the Braves.

 

"They gave me a lot of good opportunities," Furcal said. "(But) they had a chance to sign me. They knew I was going to be a free agent 

this year. But the Dodgers gave me a good offer because they thought I could be a great player for them, and that's where we are."

 

Furcal spurned a five-year, $50 million offer from the Chicago Cubs to accept the Dodgers' offer, which carries a higher average annual value and allows Furcal to become a free agent again after 2008.

 

Scout honored: Carl Loewenstine, a respected member of the Dodgers' scouting staff for more than a quarter of a century, was named professional baseball's Scout of the Year on Wednesday. Loewenstine was feted at the annual scouts' dinner at the winter meetings.

 

"I'm very surprised and very honored," said Loewenstine, who lives near Oxford, Ohio. "'Humbling' would be the best word to describe it, to be respected by your peers in this way."

 

While saying nothing about the previous regime of general manager Paul DePodesta, who was widely criticized for not being a good communicator and for underutilizing his scouting staff, Loewenstine expressed excitement at the recent hiring of Colletti, who in barely three weeks on the job already has reached out to many Dodgers scouts.

 

"Ned has brought a lot of energy to us all," Loewenstine said. "As an old-timer, I am really thankful for that."

 

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_3288610

Good. Get him the hell out of the American League.