Contreras needs season-ending surgery
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Contreras needs season-ending surgery
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Jose Contreras will require "exploratory" elbow surgery that will end his season. The Phillies are optimistic the righthander will be ready for spring training in 2012.
Contreras, 39, has experienced elbow problems since late April. After his most recent setback, team physician Michael Ciccotti recommended surgery.
Both Contreras and Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. do not believe there is ligament damage. Amaro said there could be a bone chip or spur in the elbow, but also tendon or muscle problems. The surgery, performed in the coming days by Lewis Yocum, will determine the cause.
"Nobody knows," Contreras said.
If it is a tendon problem, which Amaro speculated, surgery could sideline Contreras for four to six months.
Contreras is the only Phillies reliever already under contract for 2012. He is owed $2.5 million next season. The Phillies also hold a 2013 club option.
He'll end his season with only 17 appearances and a 3.86 ERA. He entered the season as the team's closer after a spectacular year as the setup man in 2010.
"It's a blow for us," Amaro said. "We were hopeful to have him come back and pitch at the back end. He's done a great job for us when healthy. That hurts."
Contreras doesn't need to be told that.
"It's really disappointing," he said. "I've been working hard for months to come back. It's disappointing."
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Poll: What is the future for Jimmy Rollins now that he’s out with another injury?
Tucci....Physical therapist with extensive sports medicine background and 23 years as a baseball pitcher, not softball. Thanks for asking. Also, I am not a dipassionate fan. Anything but. Even though I've been in FL for 30 years I grew up going to Connie Mack then the Vet when it opened. My sons have been raised as Phillies fans and proudly drive around FL with their decals on their vehicles. I just hate how games are played with players, agents and sometimes GMs as they try to outfox eachother to hide what's really going on. There was no way Contreras' elbow was going to bounce back after the first 3 failed tries, same with Blanton...and Lidge with a RTC tear and a couple of arm and knee surgeries will never have anything more on his pitches than he does now and it will only decrease further next year. Wish I was wrong on these guys as I'd really like to have the Lidge of '08 and the most recent Contreras.— Mark1npt- Bummer...and since league has figured out Stutes Jose will be sorely no pun missed.
— righty - Stutes seems to have lost 4-5 mph off his fastball and his slider isn't biting like it did. Not sure the league has figured him out as much as he's dropped in performance as the season has progressed.— Mark1npt
- Postseason bullpen will be fine - add Worley and Kendrick to what they have now, and see if Schwimer can stick with the team, and they have more than enough options to fill out the 6 relievers they would carry on a postseason roster. Would guess it will be Madson, Bastardo, Stutes, Lidge, Worley and Kendrick.— Phils Phan 28
- You know, he was a gamble at his age -- from a country where a birth certificate is like reading a romance novel -- but if he's ready to go in 2012, it could be worse.— eman
- Damn, I hoped he would return to allow Stutes to rest.— caught-u-sleepin
- Who's more delusional warbiscuit or mark1npt?— caught-u-sleepin
- Bunch of egomaniacs posting here. The guy did a great job for us last year and this April. I wish him the best of luck.— VicM
- That's a shame. If he could have come back for the playoffs, he would have been a good veteran arm in the bullpen.— JimG
