GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Dodgers have signed free agent pitcher Brandon Beachy to a one-year deal with a club option for 2016, the team announced Saturday.

Brandon Beachy, who is recovering from a second Tommy John surgery, is expected to be available to pitch again in the middle of the 2015 season. AP Photo/Michael Perez

Beachy didn't pitch in 2014 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery to his right elbow, but he is expected to be ready to pitch by around midseason. In 46 major league starts with the Atlanta Braves, Beachy is 14-11 with a 3.23 ERA, holding opposing hitters to a .220 batting average.

Beachy, 28, will make $2.75 guaranteed. The 2016 option will be worth between $3 million and $6 million, depending on how much he pitches in 2015.

Beachy said he has "no doubt" he can return to pitch at his former level, but said he will take as much time as he needs to recover from surgery, the second Tommy John procedure in his career.

"It's definitely taken patience and perseverance. Going through it the second time was harder mentally, definitely, but it feels worth it at this point," Beachy said. "It's going to feel even more worth it a few months from now."

Under new president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers have shown a willingness to gamble on pitchers with considerable health risk.

They're relying on Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson in the final two spots in their rotation. McCarthy had never pitched 200 innings in his career due to a recurring shoulder injury until last season and Anderson has only once pitched as many as 175 innings in a season due to a carousel of injuries, including Tommy John surgery.

To make room for Beachy on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers placed reliever Chris Withrow -- who also is recovering from Tommy John surgery -- on the 60-day disabled list.

Beachy has considerable upside. In 2011, his 10.74 strikeouts-per-nine innings was the fourth-best all-time among major-league rookies behind Kerry Wood, Dwight Gooden and Hideo Nomo. Beachy will wear No. 37 for the Dodgers.