DODGERS UPDATE: PROSPECTS ADDED TO ROSTER.

Byline: Tony Jackson Staff Writer

Ned Colletti's first official act as general manager of the Dodgers was to add pitching prospects Jose Diaz and Greg Miller and infield prospects Joel Guzman, Andy LaRoche and James Loney to the 40-man roster on Thursday.

Actually, Colletti gave rubber-stamp approval to the moves, which had been all but decided by his new staff in the days before he was given the job.

The additions came just before today's deadline for protecting players from next month's Rule 5 draft, in which those drafted out of high school who have completed four professional seasons and those drafted out of college who have completed three can be taken by other clubs if they aren't on the 40-man.

If there is an advantage to the Dodgers losing six players to free agency and a seventh to retirement, it is that they were left with enough open roster spots to protect all the players they wanted to. Even after the moves, the club still has two open spots, affording Colletti some valuable roster flexibility when he starts making trades and signing free agents.

It appears Colletti's real first order of business, hiring a manager, won't begin in earnest until early next week. The former San Francisco assistant GM spent most of the day flying to Florida for Giants GM Brian Sabean's wedding this weekend.

Tony Jackson, [phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com