Is Ted Lilly already gone?

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Quick answer: Looks like it.

Lilly will become a free agent at the end of the season, would like to return to the Dodgers and the Dodgers would like to have him back.

That all sounds so swell. What could possibly go wrong?

How about Lilly’s agent, Larry O’Brien, telling Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com, that despite mutual interest he doesn’t think the Dodgers will be able to ante up.

‘I think the Dodgers are interested in signing Ted back. Ted has interest in signing back,’ said O’Brien.

‘I’m just not sure the Dodgers at this point are going to get to a range that will be very easy for us to achieve come December. I’m pretty confident that there’s a minimum three-year deal out there for Ted.’

Now you could argue Lilly might become the first victim of the organizational stalemate that is expected to grip the franchise while Frank and Jamie McCourt do their Divorce of the Century routine.

And you could also argue the wisdom of the Dodgers handing out a three-year contract to a 35-year-old pitcher.

Normally, Lilly seeking such a lengthy deal at his age might seem a long shot. But this is shaping up as a remarkably thin offering of free-agent pitchers this off-season. After Cliff Lee, Lilly figures to be near the top of the list.

And although he doesn’t throw as hard as he did 10 years ago, it’s not like he ever tried to get by throwing heat. He’s a pitcher. And despite the worst-run support in baseball, the left-hander has shown this season he can still pitch (9-12, 3.71 ERA).

If he really wants to return the Dodgers, possibly a two-year compromise can be had. His price will be interesting, however. He made $12 million this season. That has to give Frank McCourt one more reason to stay up at night.

At the least, you would expect the Dodgers to offer him arbitration. If he the signs elsewhere, he is expected to qualify for draft-pick compensation.

Of course, the Dodgers had the same situation with Randy Wolf last year and passed, and he was coming off a season where he made $8 million.

Somebody has to be in the Dodgers’ rotation next year. It’s required.

Currently only Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley are under their control for next year. Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla will also become free agents.

-- Steve Dilbeck