Schmidt improves, but status uncertain

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The news from Jason Schmidt, again, was that there was no news. At least not any definitive news.

Reporting to Dodgertown with the pitchers, catchers and rehabilitating players Thursday morning, Schmidt said he remained unsure if he would be on the Dodgers’ opening-day roster.

Manager Joe Torre took the initiative of downplaying expectations, saying that he told the three-time All-Star that he wasn’t being counted on to be ready for the start of the season.

“I’m not saying he won’t be,” Torre said, “but I don’t want to raise any red flags if he doesn’t throw one day.”

But Schmidt, who was limited to six starts in the first season of his three-year, $47-million contract, said that in the last two weeks, he made a significant breakthrough in rehabilitation from shoulder surgery.

One day, he woke up to discover that the stiffness and nagging soreness were suddenly gone. The balls that he threw had more carry, so much so that when he played catch that day, the first one he released sailed over the head of his partner.

“I don’t want to read too much into it,” Schmidt said.

Twice a week for the last month, Schmidt threw off a mound at his off-season base in Arizona under the watch of Phoenix-based physical therapist Brett Fischer.

“Just tossing, basically,” he said.

But he said he could already tell that the surgery has had its desired effect, as he has been able to extend his arm farther back when throwing. Trainer Stan Conte visited him in Arizona last week and told him that his delivery looked “more easy and free.”

Though Schmidt’s status for opening day remains uncertain, plans are for him to pitch in a game this spring, Torre said. Whether that will be a simulated or “B” game, or against another club will be determined by his progress up to that point.

If Schmidt isn’t ready to go at the start of the season, the fifth spot in the rotation probably would go to Esteban Loaiza, who said he spent the off-season strengthening his surgically repaired right knee. Loaiza made it clear that he prefers starting to relieving, saying he never felt comfortable coming out of the bullpen when pitching for Texas and Pittsburgh.

“It was kind of hard warming up, sitting down and warming up again,” Loaiza said. “I’m not the kind who likes to sit down. I’ve always been a starter my whole career.”

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The Dodgers and Indian River County are finalizing an agreement that could make the club’s departure from Vero Beach official this summer. Under the terms of the deal, if the Dodgers don’t notify the county by July 15 that this spring was their last in Vero Beach, they will owe the county $575,000 if they move next spring into their new camp headquarters in Glendale, Ariz.

The Indian River County Commission will decide Tuesday whether to accept the deal.

Dodgers spring training coordinator Craig Callan said that the club hasn’t been able to provide the county with a definite departure date because he isn’t 100% certain that the facility in Arizona will be completed in time for spring training next year.

“I’m not comfortable saying it’s a slam dunk,” Callan said. “It’s moving in that direction, but we need to have that comfort that if something happens, we have a home.”

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com