Saito became a big deal out of the bullpen

Not returning to the Dodgers never occurred to Takashi Saito, as it turns out. Any suggestion to the contrary was a negotiating ploy to get a raise beyond that of a typical second-year player.

Saito, who turned 37 this week, is anything but typical. As a rookie with 13 seasons in the Japanese League, he filled the void left by Eric Gagne and notched 24 saves, striking out 107 and giving up 48 hits in 78 1/3 innings.

All after not making the team out of spring training.

“Saito was a godsend for us,” Manager Grady Little said. “He was amazing.”

Yet he was still a rookie with zero negotiating power except to offer vague comments about not wanting to leave his wife and children for another season in Los Angeles.

He got a raise to $1 million with incentives that could net him another $300,000. Not big money for a reliable closer, but better money than most second-year players receive.

“From the beginning I told my agent I wanted to re-sign with the Dodgers,” he said Friday through an interpreter after taking a physical along with the rest of the team’s pitchers and catchers.

“I never thought about what I would do if I didn’t sign, because in my mind there was no other choice. I never thought about alternatives.”

And he never pursued a multiyear deal.

“I haven’t thought about anything past one year,” he said. “I didn’t ask for a two-year deal. I played in Japan under multiyear contracts and it didn’t go well. I think a one-year deal keeps me motivated to challenge myself.”

Saito injured his right calf while running in Japan on Jan. 15, then re-injured it a few weeks ago running in L.A. He won’t take part in any running activities until it is completely healed.

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Left-handed pitcher Mark Hendrickson is forcefully resisting what seems like a foregone conclusion -- that he will be a middle reliever instead of a starter.

Front-runners for the fifth starting spot are Chad Billingsley and Hong-Chih Kuo, two hard-throwing products of the Dodgers farm system. Left-hander Eric Stults is another possibility and right-hander Brett Tomko could be moved from the bullpen to the rotation.

Hendrickson isn’t fazed.

“I’ve been a starter my entire career and I’ve prepared this off-season to be a starter,” he said.

Hendrickson has started 116 of his 120 major league games over the last four seasons. But his 2-7 record with the Dodgers after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at midseason means he has to prove himself all over again.

“There’s nothing wrong with a little competition,” he said. “It will just make us a better team.”

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Matt Kemp and Andy LaRoche are among the handful of position players who reported with pitchers and catchers. It’s no coincidence that they are competing for roster spots.

“I’m already ready to go,” Kemp said. “This is no time to rest.”

Both are top prospects, but Dodgers coaches privately feel they could benefit from a few more months at triple A. Kemp and LaRoche can’t fathom waiting another day.

“I feel like I’m ready to contribute,” LaRoche said.

Kemp is trying to crack an outfield that includes Luis Gonzalez, Juan Pierre, Andre Ethier, Marlon Anderson and Jason Repko. LaRoche will compete with Wilson Betemit at third base.

LaRoche spent the off-season rehabilitating his surgically repaired left shoulder in Arizona. The shoulder gave him problems for three years, especially when he swung the bat hard.

Yet the deepest pain he felt was not getting a September call-up by the Dodgers.

“I was kind of disappointed,” he said. “I didn’t know why. That’s why I’m here early. I have a legitimate chance of making the team and I want it to start now.”

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The obligatory first day of spring training question was met by the obligatory answer:

Who will be the Dodgers’ opening-day starter?

“We have good choices there,” Little said. “We haven’t decided on that, although we’ve looked at it carefully.”

Little could go with one of two holdovers who each had 16 victories last season -- Derek Lowe and Brad Penny -- or he could tab Jason Schmidt, who started his share of openers with the San Francisco Giants.

If Schmidt starts the opener April 2 at Milwaukee and Lowe pitches the second game, it would enable Schmidt to make his second start April 8 at San Francisco against his former teammates. It also would enable Lowe to start the home opener April 9 against the Colorado Rockies.

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steve.henson@latimes.com