Padres set deadline for Rea’s rehab program

SAN DIEGO — Padres right-hander Colin Rea, who suffered a partially torn UCL in his right elbow in July, has resumed throwing with the hope that he’ll be back to full strength by the beginning of December.

The Padres have set a Dec. 1 deadline for Rea’s return to health. If he doesn’t meet it, Tommy John surgery appears to be the most likely course of action.

Initially, Rea opted to avoid surgery, instead receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection on Aug. 18. The Padres view his current rehab as something of a no-lose situation, because if his recovery hits a snag, December surgery would force him to miss one season — just as it would have in August.

That’s also why they’ve set a deadline.

“We’d love to come to a conclusion by the first of December, at the latest,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “That gives him ample opportunity where if he does end up missing the following season, he’s going to be able to recover [for 2018].”

Rea was initially part of the July 29 trade that sent Andrew Cashner to the Marlins. He made one start in Miami, where he injured his elbow, before the two teams worked out a separate deal which sent Rea back to San Diego in exchange for pitching prospect Luis Castillo, (who also was a part of the original …

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