Dodgers' Billingsley building up for 2014 return L.A. leaves pitcher on 40-man roster, signaling he could return early in the season By Chris Gabel | MLB.com -- 6 hours ago GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Chad Billingsley said he was progressing well in his rehab from Tommy John surgery when he reported to camp. But the statement the Dodgers made over the weekend shows Billingsley's comments aren't just lip service. The Dodgers needed to make room on the 40-man roster for new Cuban infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena and they could have shifted Billingsley, out since last spring, to the 60-day disabled list, which would have guaranteed the right-hander would be out until mid-May. But the team instead elected to designate for assignment infielder Justin Sellers, more than suggesting the one-time All-Star could return to a Major League mound before then. "It seems that way," Billingsley said Sunday of reading between the lines. "I'm not really too worried about that. My main focus is getting healthy and being smart during this rehab. Don't have any setbacks. "The rehab has been going great so far. The arm is feeling good. It feels like I have a new arm, really. The elbow started bugging me back in 2008 and it was a gradual deterioration from there, so it's nice to wake up in the morning and not feel like it's stiff and sore. It's a different feeling than I've felt in a long time. It's nice to throw without pain." Billingsley underwent the elbow surgery last April after he made two regular season starts. Back then, or even six months ago, he didn't let himself put expectations or timetables on his progress. "You can't predict a 12-month process," he said. "You'd like to be back by the 12th or 13th month, and right now it's going that way, but you never know." Billingsley said he's thrown off a mound 14 times this spring, three innings of about 15 pitches each time. The one-time 16-game winner has kept his fastball between 80-85 mph the past five weeks at the doctors' behest. He will increase his velocity this week and hopes to throw breaking balls by the end of week. "I'm gradually building up," he said. A great amount of math goes into the rehab process. But Billingsley refuses to allow himself to become caught up in the arithmetic of where he fits in once healthy. As it is the Dodgers have six starters -- Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dan Haren, Josh Beckett and Paul Maholm -- for five rotation spots. That's actually two fewer than a year ago, Billingsley quickly points out. "Last year they were talking about us having eight starters and we needed all eight," Billingsley said. Indeed. After Billingsley went down, Greinke, Beckett and Chris Capuano also spent time on the disabled list at different points and for varying lengths. "You can never have enough pitching," Billingsley, 29, said. "You break camp with 25 guys and you're going to need all 40, probably plus, to get through the season. "It will figure itself out. I'm not too concerned about that. When I get healthy and ready to come back and pitch, when that time comes, decisions will have to be made. But they won't be my decisions to make. The only thing I can control is my rehab and getting ready to pitch in a big league baseball game." Billingsley will make $12 million this season in the final year of a three-year, $35 million deal he signed before the 2012 season. The Dodgers own a $14 million team option on Billingsley for next year, with a $3 million buyout. But Billingsley continues to focus on the process. After a couple more bullpen sessions he'll begin to throw live batting practice. That should last the rest of the spring, though the possibility exists he could pitch in a Minor League game on one of the back fields by the end of March. "Each time out I want to give it a little stress and push it just a little to strengthen it up," Billingsley said. "If everything goes well from now until then, when the team breaks for the season I could go on a rehab assignment. If everything goes well from there I'll be back by the end of April or early May." But patience still is the prerogative. "I'll know when my arm is ready and they'll know when I'm ready," Billingsley said. "That's when I'll be back on a Major League mound." Chris Gabel is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. __
oooooooh that's when... sigh... I think that at this point we'd all be happy to get ANYTHING from Bills...
I always liked Bills. Always believed that if he pitched for some better Dodger teams, his numbers would be more "flashy" for the casual fan.
Though the Dodgers needed a roster spot to make room for new signee Erisbel Arruebarrena, the club elected to designate Justin Sellers for assignment rather than putting Chad Billingsley on the 60-day DL, writes Chris Gabel for MLB.com. That constitutes something of a vote of confidence in Billingsley's ability to return from Tommy John rehab in a relatively short time frame. The 29-year-old is entering the final year of a three-year, $35MM pact, with the club holding a $14MM option ($3MM buyout) on his 2015 season. __
watching all these other pitchers getting mega deals i predict he has his best year ever ala driefort
We have a 14 mil option on him (vs 3 mil buy out). I think we are picking it up and hoping that he goes balls out.
Billz would have to have a mega-season for the Dodgers to pick up that 14 mill check. A moderately successful season will get him a buyout and maybe an offer to come back for less. An unsuccessful season will earn him free agency.
I'm leaning towards agreeing with sdf but there are lots of what ifs and other possibilities. 14MM is less than our current #5 is going to make (assuming that is Beckett). So if Bills bounces back then I think we pick up that option. But, what if Beckett also bounces back and is willing to take a Haren contract next season? What if Haren bounces back and is willing to take a 2/20MM? Who else is out there next season that wants to be on a winning team? Fact is, we're all just guessing because we have nothing to stand on.
exactly. which is why ANYTHING from Bills will be a bonus. With the new staff we've got it takes a lot of mental pressure off of having to perform to carry the load on an under hitting team to now having the pressure to pitch well just to earn more innings. subtle but it might be the stress relief he needs not to choke so much
170K's suggests he's gonna pitch 190+ innings...highly unlikely. His 162 game averages are 13 wins, 3.65ERA, and 172 K's, so considering he's gonna have a shortened season and that's he's coming off of surgery, the numbers you suggest represent a mega-season, so actually you agree with me-you just don't realize it.