Colletti Likes Hendrickson

The Dodgers have removed Mark Hendrickson from their starting rotation in favor of a rookie with two major league starts to his credit, but General Manager Ned Colletti said Friday he plans to bring back Hendrickson next year.

“As of right now, sure,” Colletti said.

In June, when they acquired Hendrickson and catcher Toby Hall from Tampa Bay for catcher Dioner Navarro and pitcher Jae Seo, Colletti emphasized that Hendrickson was not a rent-a-starter but a pitcher under the Dodgers’ control through 2008.

Hendrickson, 32, went 4-8 with a 3.81 earned-run average in 13 starts for the Devil Rays, but he is 1-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 12 starts for the Dodgers, in line with his career ERA of 5.03.

“He’s pitched better than he has pitched here,” Colletti said. “Does that mean he can’t turn it around? No. Left-handed starting pitching is tough to find. It’s a rare breed.”

Hendrickson will make $1.95 million this season and could make about $3 million next season via salary arbitration, if the Dodgers offer him a 2007 contract. If they do not offer a contract by Dec. 20, Hendrickson would become a free agent, and the Dodgers would not receive a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere.

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Third baseman Bill Mueller rejoined the Dodgers to support his teammates and said he does not plan to retire this winter, but that’s all he knows for sure. Mueller, 35, has not played since May, when he underwent a third operation on a right knee virtually devoid of cartilage.

Mueller played 32 games this year, the first of a two-year, $9.5-million contract. He continues to do rehabilitative exercises, hoping doctors can find an experimental treatment that would enable him to return next season.

“You never know what kind of procedure might develop,” Mueller said. “I’m going to approach the off-season aggressively.

“It’s not optimistic. I wouldn’t say people are saying things are looking good.”

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First baseman Nomar Garciaparra left Friday’s game after six innings because of a strained left quadriceps muscle. The Dodgers listed his status as day to day.... Outfielder Andre Ethier did not start for the third consecutive game, but Little said Ethier would return to the lineup tonight from what he called “a breather.” ... The Dodgers will hold a pregame reunion tonight for their 1981 championship team, with the players who shared World Series MVP honors -- Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager -- throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com