DODGERS UPDATE: NO SPOT FOR GARCIA INFIELDER DEMOTED AS DODGERS TRIM ROSTER.

Byline: Tony Jackson Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - The Dodgers reassigned infielder Luis Garcia to minor-league camp Friday, arguably their most significant move of the spring so far. As a result, the opening-day roster appears to be falling somewhat into place.

Manager Jim Tracy hinted last week that Garcia was battling with Bubba Trammell and fellow non-roster invitee Olmedo Saenz for two of the final spots, and it was generally assumed one would go to Trammell because he is a roster player. Garcia's demotion probably clinches a place on the team for Saenz, who is 33 and has appeared in 352 games over five seasons in the big leagues dating to 1994.

``(Saenz) is definitely enhancing his situation,'' Tracy said. ``One night or one at-bat or three at-bats is not how I base my decisions as far as personnel. In looking at Olmedo Saenz's at-bats prior to (Thursday) night (when he went 2 for 3), he didn't have too many hits. But it's very obvious when you look at Olmedo Saenz and his approach that this guy has a real idea of how to hit. He has done it before.''

Garcia, 25, hasn't done it before, at least not at the major-league level, and certainly not in the late-inning, off-the-bench role that Saenz figures to fall into.

``I want to see what Luis Garcia does with regular at-bats,'' Tracy said. ``If you take a guy with his level of experience and thrust him into seventh-, eighth- or ninth-inning, run-producing situations, with the game on the line against a hard-throwing pitcher, that's a tall order even for a seasoned guy, much less an inexperienced major-leaguer.''

The Dodgers also reassigned catcher Ryan Kellner, infielder Jose Flores and right-hander Masao Kida, all of whom were non-roster invitees, to minor-league camp. They now have 36 players in major-league camp, including 18 pitchers.

Assuming the Dodgers go with 11 pitchers and two catchers, and assuming they open with a starting infield of Robin Ventura, Alex Cora, Cesar Izturis and Adrian Beltre and an outfield of Juan Encarnacion, Dave Roberts and Shawn Green, there will be five additional bench players. Trammell and Jolbert Cabrera are the only locks, but Saenz is close to a lock.

Jason Romano and non-roster infielder Jose Hernandez are making compelling arguments for why they should open the season in the majors. Romano, who is out of minor-league options, went 2 for 3 with a double against the Baltimore Orioles and is hitting .400. Hernandez, who is 34 and a former All-Star shortstop, went 2 for 2 with a double and a two-run homer and is hitting .348.

Saenz, Romano and Hernandez all are versatile enough to play multiple positions. But then, so is Jeremy Giambi, the only hopeful left in camp who bats left-handed. Giambi missed almost three weeks with back problems, but he finally got his first hit - a ninth-inning double off Baltimore's Robert Ramsey - in his eighth at-bat.

Barring a trade, the final roster spot probably will go either to Hernandez or Giambi. Hernandez's chances probably hinge, therefore, on how strongly Tracy and general manager Paul DePodesta feel they need a lefty on the bench.

``For the sake of balance, it would be nice, just to give Trace an option,'' DePodesta said. ``It would make it more difficult for the opposition to line up their bullpen against us. But if you have a right-handed hitter who hits right-handed pitchers well, it's not absolutely essential. You can have a very good bench without having a lefty.''

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

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