Juan Uribe was scratched from Tuesday's Cactus League lineup because of an illness. Josh Fields is playing third base in his absence. Uribe should be back to normal after a couple days of rest.

Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly said Thursday that while Juan Uribe will open the season as the starting third baseman, he's open to replacing him if he struggles. Uribe's job isn't in immediate jeopardy, despite batting just .204 with a .557 OPS last year and .217 (5-for-23) this spring, but Mattingly is willing to make a change if the struggles continue into the 2012 season. Potential alternatives at the hot corner include Jerry Hairston Jr., Adam Kennedy and possibly Josh Fields.

Juan Uribe is back in Dodgers' camp Wednesday. As expected. Uribe missed the past two days while settling a lawsuit with his former landlord in San Francisco. The 32-year-old hopes to bounce back in the second year of a three-year, $21 million contract.

Juan Uribe is expected back in Dodgers' camp Wednesday after settling his civil case against a former landlord in San Francisco. Uribe was being sued by his former landlord for $145,000 in damages resulting from a kitchen fire he allegedly started in 2010. The trial began Monday, so he only missed a couple days of workouts. The 32-year-old is looking to bounce back this season after batting just .204/.264/.293 with four homers, 28 RBI and a .557 OPS in 2011.

Juan Uribe will not report to Dodgers' camp Monday with the rest of the position players because he is scheduled to be present for a trial against his former landlord in San Francisco. Uribe is being sued by his former landlord for $145,000 in damages resulting from a kitchen fire he allegedly started while playing for the Giants in 2010. The trial is set to begin Monday at 9:30 a.m. and likely won't be wrapped up until the middle of the week, so Uribe is at risk of missing the first couple days of full-squad workouts. It's obviously far from ideal, but the Dodgers are aware of Uribe's situation. The 32-year-old batted just .204/.264/.293 with four homers, 28 RBI and a .557 OPS in 2011 and is expected to serve as the Dodgers' starting third baseman this season.

Juan Uribe will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday to repair a left sports hernia. A fitting end to a miserable first season in Los Angeles, as Uribe batted just .204/.264/.293 with four homers, 28 RBI and a .557 OPS over 295 plate appearances. The 32-year-old infielder is still owed $16 million over the next two seasons. He is expected to be 100 percent for spring training.

Juan Uribe is seeking a second opinion before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia. It was originally thought Uribe's injury would only require rest to heal, but season-ending surgery now appears inevitable. Making $5 million in the first year of a three-year, $20 million deal this season, Uribe has been horrific, batting .204/.264/.293 while delivering just 16 extra-base hits and 28 RBI in 77 games.

Juan Uribe (hip) is still unable to run at 100 percent and could be facing season-ending surgery. Uribe has been on the disabled list since the end of July with a strained left hip and abdominal discomfort. Surgery or not, it doesn't sound like the Dodgers' medical staff is counting on the infielder to return before the end of the regular season.

Juan Uribe (hip) received a cortisone injection on Wednesday. Uribe was slated to visit a Los Angeles specialist Monday or Tuesday to determine whether his strained left hip might actually be a more debilitating injury. Although Dodgers trainer Stan Conte wouldn't reveal the results of that visit, he said the injury has been "resolved." Uribe still has pain while running, though, and there's no timetable for his return. "If this shot will work, then we're hoping it will be something that will be semi-quick to get him back," manager Don Mattingly said. "I would like to get him back out there."

Juan Uribe visit a Los Angeles specialist Monday or Tuesday to determine whether his strained left hip might actually be a more debilitating injury. Dodgers trainer Stan Conte thinks Uribe could have a sports hernia or a strained abdominal muscle, though he noted that two previous MRIs did not reveal any strain. "At some point, you need an explanation," Conte said. "We think he should be ready [to play] based on the timetable, but if you have the wrong timetable, then it explains some things." Conte added that he expects Uribe to return this season, though the infielder could wind up needing surgery if rest doesn't work.