Dodgers reliever Mike Adams was supposed to start Thursday’s Freeway Series opener against the Angels three days before the regular season begins.

Instead the Dodgers right-hander left the team and won’t report to Triple-A, according to Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. Adams, 36, may be leaning toward retirement after being informed on Tuesday he wouldn’t be on the Opening Day roster. Mattingly wouldn’t confirm plans that Adams will retire.

“I would never say that for someone, but he’s going home for now,” Mattingly said. “He’s not going to report to Triple-A, at least not at this point. Anything could change. I’m a little uncomfortable talking about his career and what he would do, but for now he’s leaving spring training.”

Mattingly said Adams wasn’t recovering from relief appearances as quickly as he would like. The 10-year veteran struggled with shoulder problems while in Philadelphia the last two seasons, but has a very respectable career ERA of 2.41 and was signed by the Dodgers in the offseason to provide depth in the bullpen.

The Dodgers reached an agreement to pay Adams a $100,000 retention bonus to remain on his minor league contract but if Adams doesn’t report to Triple-A, he will not receive that bonus.