DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GM NOT EYEING TRADES YET.

Byline: TONY JACKSON Staff Writer

PHOENIX -- Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said Monday that with the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline looming, he has yet to find an available player that would justify giving up one of the club's many celebrated prospects.

``But that said, we're still two weeks away,'' Colletti said.

Colletti acknowledged the possibility that the deadline could pass without the Dodgers making another significant move to follow their June 27 trade with Tampa Bay, when they acquired left-hander Mark Hendrickson and catcher Toby Hall.

``I'm not inclined to trade away players who I believe can have a strong impact on this franchise in 2007, 2008 and 2009 for a player who isn't going to make a significant difference for us over those last two months and isn't going to be of value to us next year,'' Colletti said.

``So far, I can't say there is one player out there that I feel is a significant upgrade versus the cost of whatever prospects would be going (in return).''

Still searching: Dodgers right-hander Derek Lowe threw a side session for the third consecutive day, a highly unusual maneuver he hoped would help him find a consistent release point on his trademark sinkerball.

Lowe said the reason his sinker isn't as effective as it once was is because he is throwing so many breaking balls to left-handed hitters that he has lost the feel for his bread-and-butter pitch.

Over his past four starts, Lowe is 1-3 with a 9.43 ERA, having allowed 22 earned runs in 21 innings.

``You're not looking for a complete overhaul,'' Lowe said. ``You're just looking to get a feeling back. I haven't thrown any breaking balls in these bullpens. I'm not saying I'm going to go out there and throw a complete-game shutout next time just because I had a couple of extra sides.''

Also: Left-hander Hong- Chih Kuo started for Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, but Colletti said that isn't an indication the reliever is being converted. It was done simply to get the struggling Kuo a longer outing so he could work through some things. But he gave up four runs in 2 2/3 innings in a loss to Tucson. ... Third baseman Cesar Izturis probably will rejoin the team Wednesday. Izturis' wife gave birth to the couple's second child, a daughter, Monday. ... Outfield prospect Sergio Pedroza, who was fourth in all of minor-league baseball with 22 homers and 76 RBI, was promoted to High Single-A Vero Beach (Fla.) from low-A Columbus (Ga.) and promptly homered in his first game for the Dodgers against Brevard County.