Adams Says L.A. Smeared Him

Former Dodger pitcher Terry Adams, who signed an incentive-laden deal with Philadelphia this winter, claimed the Dodgers depressed his market value by spreading rumors that his elbow wasn’t sound.

When a string of injuries ravaged the Dodger rotation last season, Adams stepped in from the bullpen and went 10-6 with a 4.16 earned-run average in 22 starts, helping the team remain in contention. But the Dodgers didn’t make a contract offer to Adams after the season.

“It really was troublesome to meIt affected my free-agent year. When the Dodgers didn’t offer me a contract, it made other teams think there was something wrong with me,” Adams told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Dodger General Manager Dan Evans said no team personnel made derogatory comments about Adams, and any questions about his health were referred to his agent. The decision not to offer Adams arbitration, Evans said, was based on other moves the Dodgers made and anticipated.

“We made the trade for [Omar] Daal, we thought we could sign [Hideo] Nomo and we did a few days later, and we knew [Kazuhisa] Ishii would be available,” Evans said. “We liked them better than Adams, and we didn’t feel arbitration was a good risk at the time. Terry pitched well for us, and we wish him the best.”

Adams said he received initial offers from Boston, Atlanta and Texas and claimed he was close to a four-year, $28-million deal with the Red Sox until they backed off for medical reasons. He signed a one-year, $2.7-million deal with the Phillies that includes two option years and could grow to $19.5 million with incentives.

Adams claimed the Dodgers made their decision not to offer him a contract after examining him for only 10 minutes.

“If I went in and they had done a series of tests, I could have accepted that,” Adams said. “I think they made a decision based on the fact that the team signed [Andy] Ashby and [Darren] Dreifort to long-term deals last year and they got hurt.”

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Manager Jim Tracy said it’s “unfair to over-evaluate someone this early in spring,” and that had to provide some relief for Daal, who was ripped for five runs on nine hits in 12/3 innings of the Dodgers’ 6-2 exhibition loss to Houston on Friday.

Daal, who is guaranteed $5 million, is battling Eric Gagne and Odalis Perez for the fifth rotation spot, but listening to him, you’d hardly think there was any competition.

“I don’t feel I have to prove anything to anybody,” said Daal, who went 13-7 with a 4.46 ERA for the Phillies last season. “Everyone knows what I can do.”

Daal’s first pitch of the game Friday was lofted over the left-field wall by Astro second baseman Jose Vizcaino. The former Dodger also had a two-run double.

“I was overthrowing, and that’s why the ball was up all the time, but my arm felt great,” Daal said. “I don’t care if there are seven pitchers for five spots. If I do my job, I’m going to be there.”

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Kevin Brown, recovering from elbow surgery, had a strong 60-pitch bullpen workout. He’s probably a week away from appearing in an exhibition game.... The Dodgers had only four hits Friday, including a solo home run by Adrian Beltre against Houston closer Billy Wagner.