Sunday, March 10, 2013
If Billingsley is healthy...
By Doug Mittler
It’s still early in Dodgers camp, but there are encouraging signs regarding Chad Billingsley, who sat out the final month of 2012 due to a partially torn right elbow ligament.
In his latest outing on Thursday, Billingsley pitched well, and more importantly continued to allay the Dodgers' fears over the right-hander's health heading into the season, according to Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times. Billingsley has so far not reported any problems while pitching in games or throwing off a mound, which is a good sign.
The Dodgers came to camp with eight starting pitchers, and Billingsley will have one of those jobs if he is ready. Assuming that scenario unfolds, Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com says the Dodgers could accelerate their efforts to trade Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang or Ted Lilly.
Capuano would be an attractive candidate given he had a 3.72 ERA last season and has a manageable $6 million salary. Harang, who has trimmed down during the offseason, could end up in the bullpen if he isn’t traded.
The Colorado Rockies are on the prowl for arms, and they could -- and should, writes the Denver Post's Woody Paige -- give a look to the Dodgers potential surplus pitchers.
