Jose Contreras (elbow) is set to begin his minor league rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Clearwater. Contreras is making steady progress from offseason elbow surgery, but he won't be ready to start the season on time. The veteran right-hander is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 10 and should be close to ready by then.

Phillies placed RHP Jose Contreras on the 15-day disabled list with elbow soreness. Contreras is returning from offseason elbow surgery but won't be ready to start the year. The Phillies are expected to backdate the stint to March 26, so it's possible he'll only miss a few games. The veteran right-hander will regain his setup role when healthy.

Jose Contreras (elbow) will not pitch in another Grapefruit League game this spring. The Phillies are fairly confident that Contreras will be ready for Opening Day, but they want the option of backdating a potential stint on the disabled list to March 26. As a result, the veteran right-hander is scheduled to pitch on the minor league side Wednesday, Saturday and next Tuesday.

Jose Contreras (elbow) threw a scoreless inning Thursday in a minor league game. Contreras gave up one hit and induced three ground ball outs while throwing 14 out of 20 pitches for strikes. Assuming his surgically-repaired elbow feels good, the veteran right-hander should make his Grapefruit League debut soon.

Jose Contreras (elbow) is scheduled to pitch in another minor league game Thursday. Contreras reported no issues with his surgically-repaired elbow after throwing in a minor league game on Monday. If all goes well Thursday, his Grapefruit League debut should be next on the agenda. The veteran right-hander still has enough time to get ready for Opening Day.

Jose Contreras (elbow) threw 20 pitches in a minor league game Monday afternoon. "I'm ready," the veteran setup man told reporters after finishing the workout. Contreras should make his Grapefruit League debut later this week and seems likely to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Jose Contreras (elbow) is scheduled to appear in a minor league game Monday in Phillies camp. It will be the right-hander's first live action of the spring. Contreras, 40, has been taking it easy in camp as he recovers from September elbow surgery but is expected to be fully healthy by the start of the 2012 season.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro has indicated that Jose Contreras (elbow) should be ready for the start of the regular season as long as he doesn't have any setbacks. The 40-year-old right-hander threw another successful round of live batting practice Friday morning. "He looked real good and he came off the mound and felt really good about himself, so that's a good sign," Amaro said. Contreras, who is coming back from surgery to remove bone chips and also repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow, is "getting close" to appearing in a spring training game, according to Amaro.

Jose Contreras (elbow) threw his second live batting practice session of the spring on Sunday. "He looked good," catcher Carlos Ruiz told reporters shortly after the workout. "His ball was moving really good. It was very windy, too, but he said he feels great, so that's good." Contreras is aiming to be fully recovered from September elbow surgery by the start of the 2012 regular season. So far, he's on the right track.

Jose Contreras threw to hitters Thursday for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery last September. Everything went off without a hitch. The Phillies are making it a point to limit Contreras' workload this spring, but they still believe he has a chance of being ready for Opening Day.