Reds say Homer Bailey won't be ready for start of season

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) Cincinnati pitcher Homer Bailey doesn't expect to be ready for the start of the season as he recovers from surgery in September to repair a tear in the flexor tendon by his right elbow.

That leaves the Reds to fill three openings in the rotation for now.

Bailey said on Wednesday that he hasn't had any setbacks since arriving for spring training last week. The right-hander has been limited to playing catch. He's expected to throw off a mound for the first time soon.

His timetable has him returning sometime in April, so the Reds need to have a fill-in ready to start the season. They also need to replace starters Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon, who were traded in the offseason.

Bailey said his recovery has gone smoothly so far, with only some minor discomfort. Throwing off a mound will provide a good test for the forearm and elbow. He intends to be cautious.

''I'm feeling good,'' Bailey said. ''Do I think I'll be ready opening day or the first series? Probably not. But it won't be long after that.

''I'd rather go through this one time than overdue something and start from square one.''

The 28-year-old Texan has thrown a pair of no-hitters, beating the Pirates in Pittsburgh 1-0 on Sept. 28, 2012, and the Giants at Great American Ball Park 3-0 on July 2, 2013. He got a six-year, $105 million contract during spring training last year.

Bailey went 9-5 with a 3.71 ERA in 23 starts before he started feeling pain in the forearm by the elbow. He went on the disabled list in August. When the pain didn't go away after therapy, Bailey decided to have the surgery.

Manager Bryan Price plans to have Bailey throw off a mound, then throw to some Reds hitters before using him during a spring training game. Cincinnati opens its spring season on March 3.

''He is well on his way,'' Price said recently. ''He will be ready to go fairly early in the season.''

Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani - obtained from Miami in the Mat Latos trade - left-hander Tony Cingrani and right-hander Raisel Iglesias are front-runners in the competition for the open spots in the rotation. The Reds also signed veterans Jason Marquis and Paul Maholm to minor league deals and brought them to camp to compete.

NOTES: Skip Schumaker has been cleared for all baseball activity. The outfielder-second baseman dislocated his left shoulder during spring training last year. He batted .235 in 83 games with two homers and 22 RBIs before having surgery on the shoulder. ... Joey Votto is doing full workouts as he returns from strained muscles above his left knee that wiped out most of his 2014 season. ''He looked good,'' Price said. ''There are no limitations on him this spring. He just needs to get into baseball shape.''