THE SIDELINES : Dodgers Buy Contracts of 6

The Dodgers purchased the contracts of six players in their minor-league system today, bringing their major-league roster to the maximum 40 players.

The contracts of right-handed pitchers Jeff Bittiger, Isidro Marquez, Dan Opperman and Zakary Shinall, infielder Jose Offerman and outfielder Braulio Castillo were added to the major league roster.

All players with the exception of Bittiger, who was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielder Tracy Woodson earlier this month, became members of a major-league roster for the first time.

Bittiger spent most of last season pitching for Vancouver of the Pacific Coast League. Marquez, Offerman and Castillo played for Bakersfield of the California League while Opperman and Shinall pitched for Vero Beach of the Florida State League.