Carlos

Monasterios

Monasterios posted a 4.38 ERA in 32 appearances for the Dodgers in 2010, but he had Tommy John surgery last year and needed surgery again last month to relocate the ulna nerve in his right elbow. It’s not clear how long he’ll be sidelined, but he’ll need to find a new organization when he’s healthy.

Monasterios, 25, missed most of the season with an elbow injury and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery in July. He will be sidelined until the middle of the 2012 season.

Monasterios has appeared in just one game over the last two years due to elbow woes. He’ll represent organizational depth.

Ramon Ortiz failed to impress with two turns out of the fifth spot in the rotation, so Monasterios will get another shot. The 21-year-old right-hander allowed one run over four innings in his first major league start against the Pirates on May 1. The Rule 5 pick has a 1.90 ERA over 23 2/3 innings this season.

The Mets are already rumored to be trading the pick to the Dodgers. Monasterios, 23, has a 4.49 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over four minor league seasons. He was acquired by the Phillies from the Yankees as part of the Bobby Abreu trade in 2006.

The Mets took Monasterios with the seventh pick of Thursday’s Rule 5 Draft via Philadelphia, but dealt him to Los Angeles within minutes of their selection. Monasterios, 23, put up a 3.73 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 37 appearances (eight starts) between Class A Clearwater and Double-A Reading in ’09.

Monasterios, a Rule 5 pick from the the Phillies, had been unscored upon in eight innings before Monday’s game. He’s a dark horse candidate for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, but he’ll have to beat out Eric Stults, Ramon Ortiz and Russ Ortiz, among others, in order to do it. Not impossible, because the Dodgers have some incentive to keep him, but it’s a tall order for the 24-year-old.

Quite an accomplishment for someone who has barely pitched above A-ball. Monasterios, 24, tallied a 3.73 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 35 games (seven starts) with Class A Clearwater (Phillies) last season and pitched just 7 1/3 innings with Double-A. The Dodgers acquired the 6-foot-2 right-hander from the Mets after he was selected with the seventh pick of December’s Rule 5 Draft. He compiled a 1.69 ERA and 10/7 K/BB ratio over 16 innings this spring.

Monasterios’ didn’t throw more than 2 2/3 innings in any of his appearances last month, so he was removed after 73 pitches tonight. It’s possible he’ll get another spot start next week, but the Dodgers would prefer to leave him in middle relief.

Monasterios, 24, has compiled a 1.69 ERA and 6/3 K/BB ratio in 10 2/3 innings out of the bullpen this season. The Pirates aren’t exactly an intimidating offense, but there are surely better options for NL-only leaguers.