The Dodgers remain in contact with the agent for unsigned pitcher Braden Looper, but chances of a deal are slim because they can’t offer the Major League roster spot or the kind of salary the right-hander wants.

Looper, Joel Pineiro and Jon Garland were in the group of innings-eating veterans the Dodgers considered for fourth starter before they signed Vicente Padilla to a $5.025 million contract. 

There also was talk about signing Looper a year ago, but the Dodgers went with Randy Wolf and Looper signed for $4.75 million in Milwaukee, where he went 14-7 with a 5.22 ERA and threw 194 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers currently plan to get their fifth starter from a group of Scott Elbert, Charlie Haeger, Josh Lindblom, James McDonald, Carlos Monasterios, Russ Ortiz and Eric Stults,  — Ken Gurnick