DODGERS' HOT STOVE HEATING UP.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

Here it is November, so it must be time to write off the 2007 Dodgers ... whoa, sorry, sometimes these bad habits are difficult to break.

Let's try it again: Here it is November, and for the Dodgers, that heralds another interesting offseason.

Interesting, but certainly much different than a year ago. At this time in '06, the Dodgers were in complete disarray. They didn't have a general manager, a manager, coaching staff or, seemingly, a clue.

Ned Colletti wasn't hired as the general manager until Nov. 16, and then an absolute whirlwind was in set in motion.

In less than three weeks, Grady Little was named manager. The next day free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal was signed. Then Milton Bradley was dealt to Oakland for some kid named Andre Ethier. Third baseman free-agent Bill Mueller was signed for two years, first baseman Nomar Garciaparra and outfielder Kenny Lofton signed on for a year. Right-hander Brett Tomko signed for two years.

And that little makeover transpired in a mere 16 days in December.

Meet the new winter, not the same as the old winter.

This offseason figures to be a completely different experience for Colletti. The current free-agent class is, shall we say, unspectacular. The plums are few, and figure to be overpriced.

``It's certainly not overrun with depth,'' Colletti said.

But Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee are going to sign somewhere. Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt may not be what they once were, but they're still attractive starters. Aramis Ramirez would fill a need at third.

The wild-card Dodgers have holes to fill, which hardly makes them unique. They need a power bat, at a position unknown. They need a top starting pitcher, preferably one who can actually last more than five innings.

``There are some free agents we're high on and we're really going to make a run at,'' Colletti said. ``Every move we make will change the disposition of our club.''

Every piece added impacts the next possible move.

If they sign Soriano (as an outfielder) or Lee, they get the big bat and don't need to re-sign Lofton. If they sign a first baseman, they don't need to re-sign Garciaparra at first, but might consider him at third. Do they sign Ramirez to a long-term contract and bury top prospects Andy LaRoche and Wilson Betemit?

If they do sign Zito or Schmidt, they may not need to re-sign Greg Maddux.

``It's tough to anticipate,'' Colletti said. ``There are so many pieces. It's a plus to have so many good young players in your system. We'd be in a tough hole if things were different.

``You're going to mix and match as best you can, but knowing you have some really good players coming up, you don't want to have them backed up for three or four years.''

One big advantage over last season is Colletti and Little are now familiar with this young talent they heard so much of when they arrived. They have a value to place next to each name, and not just a secondhand reputation.

So do they go with James Loney, he of the hot September after two unimpressive call-ups, at first base? Give Ethier, who was consistent all season until a nosedive in the final month, an outfield spot? Consider platooning the right-handed LaRoche and the switch-hitting Betemit (.189 vs. left-handers) at third? Pencil Matt Kemp, he of the ferocious start and faint follow-up, in the outfield?

How many young players are too many young players?

One move depends on the other, which commonly depends on what another club does.

``It's a big chess game,'' Colletti said. ``So much of it is timing. One free agent may sign with you if he doesn't go one other place, but they don't want to sign him unless they can move so-and-so somewhere else.''

Last year by necessity, Colletti went the stop-gap route, filling holes mostly by signing veterans to short deals.

This year, he figures to be focused on long-term deals with a hitter and pitcher. Teams can start negotiating with other team's free agents on Sunday.

``We'll be aggressive out of the gate with the free agents we've targeted,'' he said. ``Within five to 10 days, we'll have a pretty good feel for where we're at.''

The general manager meetings start Monday in Orlando. It figures to be a busy next couple of weeks, even if a thin free-agent class forces the Dodgers and others to look more to trades than the market.

The lack of a deep free-agent class is largely the result of the current collective bargaining agreement that added revenue sharing. Now small- market clubs are commonly locking up their young players with extensions before they can become free agents.

It figures to be the wave of the future, too.

``You have teams getting $30-40 million in revenue sharing,'' Colletti said. ``They're tying up their young players, and you have to do something else.

``The potential free agents aren't there the way they were. You can't count on plugging the gaps with free agents. You may be able to fill one or two (spots) if you're lucky.''

Colletti said he has already been in contact with the agents for Garciaparra, Lofton, Maddux and Eric Gagne, as well as closer Takashi Saito, who is considering returning to Japan. He said all expressed interest in returning.

Garciaparra came up as a shortstop, played third for the Cubs and last year first for the Dodgers. He was their most dynamic player last season, and a local product, and could be huge in L.A. if he remains here.

``Nomar is agreeable to play a number of different positions,'' Colletti said. ``We'll just have to see the constitution of the club.''

Make this deal, then don't make this move. Sign this guy, don't promote this one. Some may wait for the shakedown, some may not.

It's hot stove time, and it figures to be interesting.

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