VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Outfielder J.D. Drew, still celebrating the arrival of a healthy first child last weekend, is hoping to be a healthy dad in 2006.

Drew, whose immense ability has been hampered by an injury-plagued career, joined workouts Friday. He said he won't immediately cut loose with throws after undergoing shoulder surgery, but he's fully healed from wrist surgery.

Drew said he is throwing 150 feet with long toss and has been hitting off a tee. He closely watched the offseason activity in the front office and likes the result.

"You wonder what direction it would head, but from what I've seen, everything is positive in the approach for a quality team on the field," Drew said. "We've added guys with proven production -- Nomar [Garciaparra], Kenny [Lofton], Rafael [Furcal]. This will be fun. I got excited about it."

Drew said he'd still like to play center field, but won't press the issue with the arrival of Lofton. He also said he liked the choice of manager, Grady Little, and wished former teammate Milton Bradley luck in Oakland.

"I hope good things come out of a tough situation," he said. "I never had anything against him. He's a really good guy at heart. I hope he finds himself in a good situation over there."

Drew was a No. 3 hitter on last year's team, but the acquisition of Garciaparra would allow Little to split up left-handed hitters Drew and Lofton by batting Garciaparra third and Drew fifth, sandwiched around cleanup hitter Jeff Kent.

Robles reconsiders: Oscar Robles, anticipating a challenge to his roster spot by Ramon Martinez, has decided not to participate for the Mexican national team in the World Baseball Classic.

"This is a tough decision because I want to represent Mexico and if I had [a spot on the Dodgers clinched], it would be different," said Robles. "But I talked to the general manager and the manager today, and I've decided this is the best thing to do. I signed in 1994. It took me until 2005 to make it to the Major Leagues, and I want to stay."

Robles was one of the most pleasant surprises of 2005. He barely missed making the club out of Spring Training, was returned to the Mexican League, then was re-purchased in May as an injury fill-in. He went on to start 49 games at shortstop and 31 at third base, and after July 1 led the club in at-bats and hits.

However, he said he was concerned that the new management team might not be completely familiar with his game, and that his chances of keeping his job would improve if he remained in camp so they could watch him play.

Help for Colletti: The Dodgers hired longtime executive Bill Lajoie as senior advisor to the general manager and Phil Rizzo as a Major League scout.

Lajoie had been a special advisor of baseball operations with the Boston Red Sox and oversaw the front office during the few months that Theo Epstein left the organization.

GM Ned Colletti said Lajoie would evaluate talent, monitor the Triple-A and Double-A affiliates, and serve as an extra set of eyes when the club is looking at players to acquire.

Lajoie was general manager of the Detroit Tigers when they won the World Series in 1984, was special assistant to the general manager in 1995 when the Atlanta Braves won the World Series, and was special assistant to the general manager when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. He began his front office career in 1974 as Detroit's scouting director.

Rizzo had been a scout with Arizona.

Professor on the run: Baserunning coordinator Maury Wills, given nearly an hour to address the team on the finer points of getting around the bases, said that Colletti and Little fully appreciate the impact he can make.

"They have shown me all the respect in the world," said Wills, a former MVP and stolen base pioneer. "It's very important when you're a senior member to get some acknowledgement. I got more time this year. Grady said take as much time as you need.

"There's no column for leading the league in baserunning, and your agent can't negotiate for that ability. It's one of the phases of the game that's among the most important but least emphasized and taken for granted. You just assume a Major Leaguer knows how to run the bases, but it's far from the truth. Unless you're the '27 Yankees or the '55 Dodgers, you better have good baserunning to win."

Little called Wills "probably the best baserunner who ever played."

Lowe's reaction: Derek Lowe, who started last year's season opener on the road, said this year's assignment will be special because it will be at home.

"[Pitching coach] Rick Honeycutt said we're like the Chicago White Sox, without a true No. 1 ace, and that's the best way to describe our rotation," said Lowe, named the Opening Day starter Thursday. "It's something to look forward to. It's always an honor to get a chance to do that."

Honeycutt missed the practice to be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

Medical report: Eric Gagne did not throw the day after a 20-pitch batting practice session, but said his arm felt fine.

Russell Martin, plugged by a Jose Diaz fastball Thursday, said he felt fine and missed no work despite the welt on his back.

Four players were under the weather -- Garciaparra, Martinez, Kelly Wunsch and Danys Baez. Garciaparra never dressed, while the other players left early.