Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley reportedly agrees to contract extension worth at least $30 million

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Starting pitcher Chad Billingsley reached tentative agreement with the Dodgers on a three-year contract extension worth at least $30 million overall, a person familiar with the talks said Monday.

The Dodgers declined comment on the report from the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity since the deal had not yet been signed. More specific terms of the agreement were not immediately available.

The right-handed Billingsley, 26, and the Dodgers avoided a salary arbitration hearing in January when Billingsley signed a one-year, $6.275-million contract.

The Ohio native, who was 12-11 with a 3.57 earned-run average last season, was eligible for arbitration for the second time. He was paid $3.85 million in 2010.

Billingsley and the rest of the Dodgers returned to Dodger Stadium on Monday to play the first of two exhibition games with the Angels. The Dodgers open their season Thursday against the San Francisco Giants.

--Jim Peltz