Brandon League designated for assignment by Dodgers

Brandon League never made it back.

The sidelined reliever was designated for assignment by the Dodgers, who removed him from their 40-man roster Thursday.

The transaction will probably mark the end of League’s tenure with the Dodgers.

League didn’t pitch in a single game for the Dodgers this season, but they still owe him what remains of his $7.5-million salary.

League will soon be one of six players who will be paid a combined $47.5 million by the Dodgers to not play for them. The others: Matt Kemp, Brian Wilson, Dan Haren and Dee Gordon.

League was shut down late in spring training with shoulder problems. He started a minor league rehabilitation assignment last month and pitched in 10 games, the most recent on Tuesday. He gave up only one earned run in 10 2/3 innings, but his fastball velocity was said to be down considerably.

Rehabilitation assignments for pitchers could take as long as 30 days. League was nearing the end of his window, meaning the Dodgers were days from having to decide whether to reinstate him from the disabled list or part ways with him.

Because League was on the 60-day disabled list and didn’t count toward the Dodgers’ 40-man limit, his impending departure will not open a place on the roster.

League was acquired from the Seattle Mariners on the eve of the non-waiver trade deadline in 2012 by the team’s previous general manager, Ned Colletti. League finished the season as the closer and was re-signed after the 2012 season to a three-year, $22.5-million contract.

The first year of that deal was a disaster for League, who lost his job as closer and finished the season with a 5.30 earned-run average.

League had something of a bounce-back season last year, posting a 2.57 ERA as a middle reliever.