Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen out up to three months following foot surgery

The Dodgers closer on opening day will be ... someone other than Kenley Jansen.

The Dodgers announced Tuesday night that Jansen had undergone surgery to remove a growth from a bone in his left foot and will be out eight to 12 weeks.

Jansen was the one rock in the Dodgers’ bullpen last year, saving 44 games in his first full season as the team’s closer.

The Dodgers said Jansen noticed discomfort in his foot while running last week. X-Ray, MRI and CT scans revealed the problem in the fifth metatarsal of his left foot.

The Dodgers said the surgery was performed Tuesday morning by doctors Earl Brien and David Thordarson, under the direction of team physician Neal ElAttrache. Jansen is expected to be on crutches for approximately 10 days and then wear a walking boot for up to four weeks.

If Jansen is out three months he could be sidelined until the middle of May. There is no obvious in-house reliever to replace him as closer. Candidates include J.P. Howell, Joel Peralta and Chris Hatcher. The Dodgers reliever with the most experience as a closer is Brandon League.

The Dodgers reportedly were already looking for more additions to the bullpen before the announcement. Free-agent closers still available include 33-year-old Francisco Rodriguez, who saved 44 games last season for the Brewers, and 35-year-old Rafael Soriano, who saved 32 games for the Nationals.

Follow Steve Dilbeck on Twitter @stevedilbeck