Dodgers’ Schmidt is finished for season

TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Jason Schmidt had season-ending shoulder surgery on Wednesday and is not expected to return until spring training 2008.

“We knew he hadn’t been throwing well,” general manager Ned Colletti said. “It’s been a concern for a few starts. Obviously it’s a disappointment. We’ll just have to figure out how to make it better.”

Schmidt went 1-4 with a 6.31 ERA in six starts.

Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said Schmidt had surgery to repair an inflamed bursa, a torn labrum and a frayed biceps tendon in his right shoulder.

The torn labrum is considered the most serious aspect of the surgery, performed in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening.

Schmidt, who signed a $47 million, three-year contract as a free agent during the offseason, was placed on the disabled list in April because of bursitis in his shoulder after going 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA in his first three starts.

Following a 45-game absence, Schmidt returned June 5 and threw six shutout innings in San Diego, consistently reaching 89 mph and topping out at 91 mph.

But the 34-year-old right-hander didn’t perform nearly as well in his last two starts, and his velocity was down. He allowed three runs and five hits in 42⁄3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, walking four and striking out two.