Red Sox P Bailey considering season-ending surgery
Boston Red Sox reliever Andrew Bailey was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury, and he is deciding whether to undergo season-ending surgery to correct the problem, multiple media outlets reported Friday.
Bailey felt discomfort when he pitched last Friday against the A's.
He had an MRI in Boston on Monday and went to New York on Tuesday to see Dr. David Altchek for a second opinion.
Altchek confirmed the findings of damage to Bailey's labrum and capsule, Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters, ESPNBoston.com reported.
Bailey is investigating alternatives to surgery but acknowledged that "the only way to fix this is surgery -- 100 percent fix it. This isn't going to heal on its own.''\
He is 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA and eight saves in 30 appearances this season.
Bailey could be the fourth Red Sox reliever to be out of action for an extended period this season.
The Red Sox signed former major leaguers Jose Contreras and Brandon Lyon to minor-league contracts and assigned them to Triple-A Pawtucket. Both are relief pitchers.
"It's tough. Tough for (Bailey) more than anything," Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said. "I know he was feeling progressively better the last couple of weeks. Looked better, was pitching well. We were counting on him to be a big part of the pen.
"We still got a little more information to gather, he may get another opinion, but he's going to be down for some time."
