Freddy Garcia signs minor league deal with Dodgers

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The never-ending quest for pitching depth continues for the Dodgers, who have signed right-hander Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract. The deal was first reported by Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

Garcia, 38, pitched in 2014 with the EDA Rhinos of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He last pitched in the big leagues in 2013 with the Orioles and Braves, locking horns with Clayton Kershaw in Game 4 of the 2013 NLDS at Dodger Stadium. Garcia allowed just two runs in six innings in a no-decision, though he was in line for the win until Juan Uribe failed to get a bunt down twice.

It is unknown if or when Garcia, at this late point in spring training, would be even ready to pitch in a game. He figures to be part of the Triple-A Oklahoma City rotation when ready, slotting in somewhere on the starting pitching totem pole.

Fellow veteran pitchers Erik Bedard (teres major muscle strain) and Chad Gaudin (tingling in his fingers) figured to add starting depth as well, but will likely start the minor league season on the shelf.

Hyun-jin Ryu is still a week away from beginning any sort of throwing program, and manager Don Mattingly on Monday ruled him out as an option to be ready when the Dodgers first need a fifth starter, on April 14. In fact, Mattingly sounded skeptical that Ryu would be ready by April 25, the second time the club would need a fifth starter.

"We're still in a two-week period where he hasn't been able to throw," Mattingly said. "It's going to be back to playing catch, long toss, bullpen, how does he recover."

Mattingly was asked on Monday morning if he expected any new additions.

"I know Andrew [Friedman] has mentioned it before, he's always on the hunt. Farhan [Zaidi] and those guys are always looking to get better," Mattingly said. "They always have some kind of feelers in the water."

Garcia was 4-7 with a 4.37 ERA in 17 games in 2013, including 13 starts, with 46 strikeouts and 17 walks in 80⅓ innings. In his 15-year career Garcia has won 156 games with a 107 ERA+ in 2,264 innings.