With 31-year-old left-hander Paul Maholm now officially a Dodger, manager Don Mattingly said that acquiring the Greenwood, MS native not only adds depth to his pitching staff but also adds protection for it.

“We’ll get him in the mix and basically get him going,” said Mattingly prior to Sunday morning’s first workout day for pitchers and catchers. “He’s another guy for us. We (saw) last year that depth in our pitching staff is important. Josh (Beckett) is doing really well and everything else but he’s coming off a tough surgery, there hasn’t been very many of them, there’s not a whole lot of history with that and we’ve just got to see where things go.

“I look at (the Maholm signing) as protection not only for our staff but our guys that are developing,” Mattingly added. “You don’t want to have to put somebody in a spot that you think they’re going to be able to handle and they may handle, but also could kind of stop their development.”

Mattingly used right-hander Matt Magill as an example.

“Mattie Magill who last year was forced into being in the big leagues when it was probably not the best thing for him. That’s the kind of thing we want to avoid.”

Through nine MLB seasons Maholm is 76-95 with a career 4.28 ERA.
(Photo credit – John Bazemore)

Mattingly also said that they have discussed with Maholm what his role will be knowing that both Beckett and Chad Billingsley are due back soon.

“As we talk with guys, Ned and his guys talk when they’re bringing a guy in, they’re upfront about the situation and where we’re at so everybody is on-board,” Mattingly said. “Nobody comes here and all of a sudden we’re going to be doing something that Ned hasn’t talked about, so we know guys are flexible as far as being willing to do whatever.”

The obvious problem with all of this is that Maholm, Beckett and Billingsley have been starters for their entire careers and only one is needed for the number five spot in the Dodgers rotation, which puts the other two in the bullpen – or elsewhere. Granted, a fifth starter will not be needed until mid April and Billingsley is still two to three months away from returning, but neither Maholm or Beckett have ever worked out of the bullpen during their respective nine and 13-year MLB careers. Asked if they have discussed this situation with the pair, Mattingly seemed a little uncomfortable.

“We haven’t really talked to Josh about it but Paul is the one that knows the situation,” said Mattingly. “But for me it’s getting down the road.”

Maholm’s one year contract with the Dodgers has a guaranteed base salary of $1.5 million with another $5 million possible through performances bonuses. Although exactly what these performance bonuses are is still unknown, one has to believe that they will be predicated on the number of games started and/or innings pitched – which suggests that Maholm will definitely want to be in the starting rotation. Beckett is owed $15.75 million in 2014 and Billingsley $12 million.

Mattingly was asked about Scott Elbert’s most recent setback (having his appendix removed recently) and moving him to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster for Maholm.

“(Elbert is) not going to be ready in 60 days, he’s still just getting back onto the field,” Mattingly said. “For me it’s more of a mechanical move. It’s been tough for him. Hopefully he’ll get by and it won’t be too much longer till he gets back out on the field.”

Mattingly added that the appendicitis thing with Elbert may work to his advantage to allow more time for his (twice) surgically repaired elbow to heal.

“It may be a blessing that (he is) getting a couple days rest on the arm where he can take it easy and let (it) keep healing.”