Shawn Estes, passed over for call-ups and stuck at Triple-A, voluntarily retired Friday despite a 3-4 mark and 3.37 ERA in 15 starts with two complete games.

Eric Milton, eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday, said he’s been told he will instead make a Minor League rehab start Sunday and most likely will be called up to start for the Dodgers at the end of next week.

Albuquerque slugging first baseman Val Pascucci was released. — Ken Gurnick

Closer Jonathan Broxton was not available Thursday night for the second consecutive game after receiving a cortisone injection for a sore big right toe but manager Joe Torre said he should be available Friday night. Manager Joe Torre said Ramon Troncoso would be his likely closer for the series finale against Oakland. Disabled reliever Will Ohman pitched one scoreless inning Thursday night at Triple-A Albuquerque. He will take one day off, then pitch in back-to-back games before being activated. Disabled pitcher Eric Milton, eligible to be activated Sunday, threw a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium. His rotation spot would not come up until late next week. Disabled pitcher Eric Stults also threw a bullpen session but he is not ready to be activated from a sprained thumb. Disabled pitcher Claudio Vargas threw three scoreless innings Thursday night for Albuquerque. Hong-Chih Kuo and Jason Schmidt still are not ready for rehab appearances. — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers manager Joe Torre stressed Thursday that details for Manny Ramirez’s Minor League rehab assignment, expected to begin next week, still are undecided. It could start for Triple-A Albuquerque early next week and likely would include time at Single-A Inland Empire 66ers, who are dark Monday through Wednesday. Ramirez is entitled to 10 Minor League games prior to coming off the suspended list July 3, when Torre said he expected Ramirez to be in the Dodgers’ lineup in San Diego. Torre said he expected Ramirez to need six or seven games to be ready for his MLB return. Ramirez resumed morning workouts at Dodger Stadium Thursday after missing several days with the flu. Ramirez was suspended on May 7 for 50 games for violating the MLB drug policy. — Ken Gurnick

Pitcher Randy Wolf underwent medical tests Wednesday seeking a diagnosis for a persistent cough with a very unusual new theory: whooping cough. Wolf has been bothered by the cough for about six weeks. He said he feels fine otherwise and believes it has no affect on his pitching, but it’s left his voice raspy. He hopes to have results of the bloodwork within a week.

 

The whooping cough theory was suggested in a round-about way, through a doctor friend of former player Matt Franco. The doctor read of Wolf’s symptoms and suggested through Franco that Wolf might be suffering from whooping cough (pertussis), which is contagious, although most children are immunized.

 

“It’s been nagging and it’s something more than a cold,” said Wolf. “It really doesn’t affect me. It just gives me a sexy voice.” — Ken Gurnick

Outfielder Manny Ramirez Tuesday made his first pre-game clubhouse appearance since his May 7 suspension for violating the MLB drug policy. Ramirez, who is serving a 50-game suspension, is allowed to work out with the ballclub, but so far has limited his workouts to the morning hours before teammates arrived. Ramirez is eligible to return to action July 3 (barring rainouts) and is expected to serve a Minor League rehab assignment of up to 10 games prior to being activated. — Ken Gurnick

Jose Lima, one of the most popular Dodgers in recent years, stopped by the press box during Wednesday night’s game. Lima will be pitching for the Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden League and manager Garry Templeton, seeking another return to the Major Leagues. Their season opens Thursday. — Ken Gurnick

Claudio Vargas, a fifth-starter candidate for the Dodgers until being disabled the last week of Spring Training with a partially torn elbow tendon, made his 2009 debut Tuesday night by throwing a hitless inning with one strikeout for Single-A Inland Empire. — Ken Gurnick

The regular left side of the Dodgers infield — third baseman Casey Blake and shortstop Rafael Furcal — is not starting in Monday night’s game against Arizona. Mark Loretta replaces Blake, who has a hamstring strain. Juan Castro replaces Furcal, who said after Sunday night’s game in Chicago that he felt fine. — Ken Gurnick

With Hiroki Kuroda being activated off the disabled list to start Monday night, the Dodgers optioned third catcher A.J. Ellis back to Triple-A Albuquerque. Ellis was called up Friday when Will Ohman went on the disabled list. — Ken Gurnick

The Dodgers Sunday placed Saturday’s starting pitcher, Eric Stults, on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb and recalled right-handed reliever Travis Schlichting from Double-A Chattanooga. — Ken Gurnick