VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Kevin Brown didn't show up at spring training camp Monday, but the Los Angeles Dodgers insisted that wasn't a problem.

	Kevin Brown Starting pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM IP W-L BB SO ERA 17 63.2 3-4 23 58 4.81

Brown, who struggled through an injury-plagued 2002 season, reportedly was going to be at the team's spring training facility. When he didn't show, the team said it wasn't concerned.

"He doesn't have to be here until the 26th of February. It's the player's option,'' Dodgers general manager Dan Evans said. "We expect him here at some point today or tomorrow.''

The biggest question is what kind of physical condition Brown is in. He had a pair of stints on the disabled list last year because of a sore elbow and back problems. He was 3-4 with a 4.81 ERA in just 17 games before ending the year in September with a back injury.

"If he's not OK physically, we move forward,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said.

Tracy said he didn't think Brown being absent would make a difference in his progress.

"It's not going to make him any better, it's not going to make him any worse,'' he said.

In all, Dodgers' management claimed the fact their highest-paid pitcher wasn't in camp with the rest of the team wasn't a dilemma.

"If there was an issue, it would be between his teammates and him, not the team and him,'' Evans said.

Meanwhile, reliever Eric Gagne had an ultrasound taken on his right groin Monday, after feeling tightness recently.

Gagne, who recorded a team-record 52 saves last season, had a bullpen session in the morning, then went for the test following that.

"I'm cleared,'' Gagne said. "I threw my bullpen and didn't feel it. I went over there just as a precaution.''

Right-hander Andy Ashby sat out drills for the second consecutive day with stiffness in his lower back.

"We held him out of activity today because we thought no activity was better,'' Tracy said.

Ashby said there was no timetable for his return, but hoped it would be another day or two.