Team in a Policy Dispute

The Dodgers paid Paul Shuey $3.25 million for the 2004 season, but he did not pitch for them because of injury. Now the Dodgers have sued to get more than half of their money back, charging that Hartford Life Insurance Co. failed to honor the team’s claim.

In a suit filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the Dodgers asked for $1.7 million in accordance with the insurance policy, plus unspecified punitive damages.

Shuey underwent hip surgery in October 2003. By the next spring, according to the suit, Shuey had not recovered velocity or effectiveness on his pitches, and the Dodgers planned to put him on the disabled list at the start of the season.

In a fielding drill on March 31, 2004 -- one day after the policy expired, according to the suit -- he tore a tendon in his right thumb. He rehabilitated that injury, but he could not recover his pitching form, as his hip continued to bother him. He required another hip operation in July 2004 and never again pitched in the major leagues.

According to the suit, the Dodgers filed a claim, citing Shuey’s disability because of the hip injury. Hartford denied it, the suit alleges, citing Shuey’s participation in spring training as evidence he was not “totally disabled” under the policy and arguing any subsequent inability to play could be traced to the thumb injury and therefore would not be covered.

The Dodgers do not comment on pending litigation, spokeswoman Camille Johnston said. Hartford representatives did not return a call seeking comment. The suit was first reported Monday on the Dodger Thoughts website.

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Eric Gagne is expected to make two or three rehabilitation appearances at triple-A Las Vegas, the first on Friday. The Dodgers hope to activate him when their next homestand opens June 1. Manager Grady Little said he would ease Gagne back into the closer’s role by not using him on successive days at first, but Gagne says he’ll be ready for that workload.

“There’s no babying,” Gagne said. “There’s no one-day-off thing. I’m coming back ready. I’m not coming back to get ready. That’s why we’re doing the rehab. I can come back and go three days in a row if I have to.”

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The Dodgers have essentially played a man short for weeks, since they banished Odalis Perez to the bullpen and found no team eager to trade for him. Since he returned from bereavement leave May 9, Perez has pitched only one inning.

Although the Dodgers are playing with four outfielders, General Manager Ned Colletti says he does not consider the Perez situation a handicap for the team.

“It hasn’t been one for the past 15 days,” Colletti said.

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The Dodgers have one week before they lose negotiating rights with pitcher Luke Hochevar, their first-round draft pick last June. Colletti says the Dodgers do not have an offer on the table.

“Do I feel the talent is worth the asking price? I don’t agree,” he said.

Neither Colletti nor Scott Boras, the agent for Hochevar, would reveal that price. Dodger scouting director Logan White believed Hochevar had agreed to sign in September for $2.98 million. The asking price is believed to be at least $4 million.

“I want guys that want to play,” Colletti said, speaking generally. “If it’s all about the money before the game starts, it will always be about the money.”