Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ted Lilly refused a Minor League assignment from the Dodgers, leaving him a state of limbo, MLB.com reported Sunday.
Lilly is recovering from shoulder surgery, and he was expected to be a candidate to replace injured Zack Greinke in the rotation.
However, the Dodgers decided to go with Chris Capuano as Greinke’s replacement instead.
The Dodgers have four options regarding Lilly: They can activate him, designate him for assignment, release him, or trade him.
“We laid out a plan and Teddy doesn’t want to be part of the plan,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said, according to the MLB.com report. “It’s out of my hands. We didn’t feel he was ready to pitch at the Major League level. For me, it’s a baseball decision. It’s nothing personal in any way, shape or form. We’re giving him our baseball thoughts, what we think is best for him and the team.”
Lilly, 37, is owed $12 million in the last year of his contract.