Dodger general manager Paul DePodesta, who recently has demurred on Jeff Kent's fielding qualifications, became more of an advocate today in Ken Gurnick's MLB.com piece today. Hee Seop Choi, too.

"I think we had possibly the best defense last year and I still think we're well above average," he said. "We have three center fielders [J.D. Drew, Milton Bradley and Jayson Werth] roaming the outfield. In Jose Valentin, we have a shortstop at third. We have a Gold Glove shortstop [Cesar Izturis]. Our people believe Hee-Seop Choi will be above average at first.

"We have Jeff Kent at second instead of Alex Cora. I don't think Kent is getting his due. He made fewer errors than Cora and his range factor is almost identical. And we will be very, very strong behind the plate [David Ross and Paul Bako]. I still think we have one of the best defenses in the game."

We also learn that Derek Lowe will earn $7.5 million of his $36 million contract this season.

Meanwhile, Paul Lo Duca is getting $18 million over three years from Florida. Like many contracts, it looks good for the employers for the first year, when he takes in only $4.25 million, but a lot worse when he gets $13.75 million over the next two, when he'll be 34 and 35 years old.