Loaiza is claimed to help rotation

The Dodgers claimed right-hander Esteban Loaiza off waivers from the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, prompting General Manager Ned Colletti to declare that his playoff-contending club has filled immediate and future needs for a starting pitcher.

Loaiza is a two-time All-Star but comes with a disclaimer: a bulging disk in his neck and a injured right knee have limited him to only two starts this season.

But Loaiza’s form in those two recent outings convinced Colletti that he was worth the risk. The 35-year-old right-hander gave up a run over 7 2/3 innings in his season debut at Toronto on Aug. 22 and two runs in seven innings against the Blue Jays five days later. The Dodgers scouted him at those games, as well as at one of his minor league starts.

“At this stage, you’re looking for somebody to give the team a lift,” Colletti said. “He’s an accomplished starter.”

Loaiza’s first start will be Monday or Tuesday in Chicago. Loaiza was expected to join the Dodgers on Friday in San Diego. To make room for Loaiza on the 40-man roster -- the active roster expands to 40 Friday -- the Dodgers moved Jason Repko to the 60-day disabled list.

The Athletics were trying to work out a trade with the Dodgers over the previous two days, but the Dodgers balked at parting with a top prospect to get the Athletics to pay for a portion of the money owed to Loaiza. The Dodgers are on the hook for the $1 million Loaiza is owed for the rest of this season.

The acquisition of Loaiza, who is 124-108 with a 4.60 earned-run average in a 13-year career with seven teams, had as much to do with next season as this one.

He is under contract for next season for $6.5 million, according to Colletti, and his contract includes a club option worth $7.5 million for 2009.

“The projected free-agent market is not overly strong or deep,” Colletti said. “It gives us another starter going into next season that we won’t have to shop for on the market.”

The most desirable off-season pitching prizes -- Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs and Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox -- signed contract extensions. The list of notable probable free agents consists of injured players such as Bartolo Colon and Jason Jennings and old ones like Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens.

Loaiza’s bouts with injuries are nothing new. Back and shoulder problems last season put him on the disabled list and contributed to his inconsistencies.

Colletti didn’t mind, saying, “If you’re not ready to take a risk, you’re never going to do anything.”

With Jason Schmidt, Brad Penny and Derek Lowe all signed for next season, Loaiza figures to go to spring training as the team’s fourth starter. That means the Dodgers probably will sever ties with left-hander Randy Wolf, who won nine of 15 decisions but has been sidelined for the last seven weeks by shoulder problems.

News of Loaiza’s impending arrival was welcomed in the clubhouse.

“We continue to pick up guys who have been to the mat before,” said outfielder Luis Gonzalez, referring to the recent additions of David Wells, Shea Hillenbrand and Mark Sweeney.

Manager Grady Little said Brad Penny’s recovery will dictate when Loaiza makes his Dodgers debut. Little said Penny “didn’t have his best stuff,” adding that his next start could moved from Monday to Tuesday. In that case, Loaiza would pitch Monday.

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com