MLB: Saito may need surgery

LOS ANGELES--Dodgers closer Takashi Saito said over the weekend that surgery has been mentioned as a possibility for the sprained ligament in his right elbow.

Saito had to leave an extra-inning game a week ago after he felt discomfort in the elbow. He was diagnosed with a sprain and began a six-week rehabilitation program.

"Yes, there was an option there (for surgery) and the possibility exists that it will have to happen, but right now we're concentrating on the six-week rehab," Saito said through an interpreter.

Saito is under doctor's orders to keep the elbow inactive for 10 days. Because he will have nothing to do over that time, the Dodgers gave Saito permission to return to Japan so he can visit family.

"I spoke to the general manager (Ned Colletti), team officials, and of course (manager) Joe Torre and they gave me the approval," Saito said.

The 38-year-old right-hander is signed only through this season. After this season he is arbitration eligible, meaning that if the Dodgers offer Saito arbitration, they could sign him to another contract or let a third party determine his worth for next season.

If the Dodgers decide to non-tender Saito, he would become a free agent.

If the six-week rehab program does not work and Saito ends up undergoing surgery, his rehab would likely last into next season. Saito was asked if he would lean toward retirement under that scenario.

"As far as coming back, or retirement, I have not thought about that at this time," Saito said. "My thought is, 'How can I help the team by coming back as soon as I can?' That's basically my focus."

Saito has 80 saves over the last three seasons for the Dodgers, including 17 this season. After a slow start, he had nine saves in the Dodgers' last 22 games of the first half of the season.

Named to the National League All-Star team last season, Saito was not selected for the squad this year despite just three blown saves and a 2.18 ERA. Because the Dodgers have struggled on offense, only 20 of his 39 appearances this season (51 percent) have been in a save situation.

* * *

Doug Padilla covers the Dodgers for the Los Angeles Daily News.(IHT/Asahi: July 21,2008)