Injured Saito says elbow surgery still a possibility

Dodgers closer Takashi Saito said that when team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache diagnosed him with a sprained ligament in his right elbow on Tuesday, the option of undergoing surgery was presented to him.

Saito refused.

“There is still a possibility of that happening,” Saito said, “but I want to try to rehabilitate over the next six weeks and pitch again this season.”

The plan laid out to him by ElAttrache and trainer Stan Conte calls for a six-week rehabilitation, after which he will be reexamined. Saito said he hadn’t been told when he could resume throwing.

Because he is 38 and was hurt frequently over his 14 seasons with the Yokohama Bay- Stars of Japan, Saito has often said his career could end at any moment.

“That hasn’t changed,” he said. “But it bothers me when I think about the team. . . . I’m not thinking about retiring at all. All I’m thinking about is how I can come back and help the team.”

Saito said he also hadn’t thought about whether he would try to come back next season if he decided to undergo surgery this year.

Saito has been told to rest for a period of about 10 days and plans on spending that time with his family in Japan. Because he hasn’t thrown since leaving a tied game against the Florida Marlins on Saturday, Saito says he has no feel for the condition of his elbow or whether he’ll be able to pitch again this season.

“About my elbow, I don’t know if it’s good or bad,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back. I won’t be able to say for another week or 10 days, at least.”

With Saito unavailable until at least mid-August, the Dodgers are expected to make setup man Jonathan Broxton their closer.

General Manager Ned Colletti said it was “too early to tell” if the Dodgers had to assume that Saito and shortstop Rafael Furcal wouldn’t play again this season.

“It certainly enters your mind,” Colletti said.

Nomo retires

Hideo Nomo, who opened doors for Japanese players to come to the major leagues with his ground-breaking move to the Dodgers in 1995, announced his retirement Thursday on his website.

Nomo, 39, pitched in three games this season for the Kansas City Royals but was designated for assignment on April 20. He was released on April 29.

Nomo played 12 seasons in the major leagues, compiling a 123-109 record and 4.24 earned-run average with seven teams. He was 13-6 with a 2.54 ERA with the Dodgers in 1995, when he was named an All-Star and the rookie of the year. His 236 strikeouts led the league.

“Because Nomo was here, I was able to come here,” Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda said. “In that sense, I’m very appreciative of what he did.”

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