Colletti Not Giving Up on Perez

The Arizona Diamondbacks got so fed up with the poor performances of pitcher Russ Ortiz that they released him Tuesday, swallowing the $22 million remaining on his contract. The Dodgers got so fed up with the poor performances of Odalis Perez that they dumped him into the bullpen Tuesday, for the second time this season, but General Manager Ned Colletti said he has no plans to cut him.

“I still believe he can pitch,” Colletti said Wednesday. “The rest is up to him.”

Chad Billingsley, the Dodgers’ top pitching prospect, arrived here Wednesday and makes his major league debut today, in the rotation spot previously occupied by Perez.

Perez offered a congratulatory handshake to Billingsley but declined comment to reporters. Colletti said neither Perez nor his agent has asked that the pitcher be released. If he were cut now, the Dodgers would swallow $13 million.

Perez, 29, has a 6.90 earned-run average, and opponents are batting .349 off him. In order to return to the rotation or generate trade interest, he’ll have to pitch better, no matter how limited his opportunities.

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Perez and Jae Seo already have been demoted to the bullpen, but Brett Tomko says he isn’t worrying whether he could be next. In his last five starts, Tomko is 0-4 with a 10.32 ERA.

“This game is a very humbling game,” he said. “I was going as good as anybody the first 10 starts. In the blink of an eye, you run into a little roadblock. ... It’s crazy. You can drive yourself crazy dissecting it.”

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Closer Eric Gagne visited a neurologist, who confirmed the diagnosis of an irritated nerve within the right elbow and prescribed new medication. Trainer Stan Johnston said Gagne would not be allowed to throw until the irritation subsides and estimated he would sit out a minimum of two to three weeks. ... With Andy LaRoche now at third base for triple-A Las Vegas, Dodgers Manager Grady Little said Joel Guzman would play primarily left field for the 51s. To clear a roster spot for Billingsley, the Dodgers returned Guzman to Las Vegas, where he has played first base, third base and left field. ... Seo said he expected to sit out “a couple days” to get rid of the shoulder soreness that forced him from Tuesday’s game.