Dodgers agree to terms with Ted Lilly

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The Dodgers have agreed to terms on a new contract with pitcher Ted Lilly, according to a baseball source. The terms were not immediately available; the deal is expected to be finalized after Lilly passes a physical examination.

Lilly, 34, went 7-4 with a 3.52 earned-run average in 12 starts last season for the Dodgers. The club acquired him in a July 31 trade from the Chicago Cubs. The deal also brought infielder Ryan Theriot to Los Angeles; the Dodgers sent infielder Blake DeWitt and two minor leaguers to the Cubs

Lilly, who grew up in the South Bay, had let the Dodgers know he wanted to return and did not need to test free agency if the club presented him with a solid offer.

The Dodgers now have Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley and Lilly set to return atop their starting rotation. Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla are expected to file for free agency, and the Dodgers have not ruled out bringing back either or both. However, they are not expected to be active in the pursuit of Cliff Lee, the premier starter eligible for free agency.

Lilly is 113-96 with a 4.18 ERA in 12 major league seasons; 54-39 with a 3.80 ERA in five National League seasons. The ERA+ statistic, which controls for league and ballpark differentials, has ranked Lilly as an above-average major league pitcher in all but one year since 2002.

-- Dylan Hernandez and Bill Shaikin

Photo: Ted Lilly works against the Colorado Rockies in August. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times