It’s not quite Adam Wainwright possibly needing Tommy John surgery, but it’s also not good:

Vicente Padilla will undergo surgery on his pitching arm on Thursday to release a nerve that is entrapped by one of the deep muscles in his forearm.

The Dodgers have not set a timetable for his return.

You’ll remember, of course, that Padilla missed two months last year with – wait for it – nerve problems in his right arm. He was able to avoid surgery, and came back strongly, putting up a 1.80 ERA with a 52/13 K/BB in his first nine starts after returning.

It’s hard to say the full impact here until we know more details, though it should be noted that Padilla’s deal is heavily based on incentives. With Ronald Belisario still MIA, there’s now three potential openings in the pen, news which must make Blake Hawksworth, Ron Mahay, Scott Elbert, and the cast of thousands happy.

Who knew that the additional pitching depth would be tested by February 23?