NEW YORK — Mets closer Billy Wagner is out for the rest of this season and likely all of next.
The left-hander will have surgery after an MRI on Monday showed a torn medial collateral ligament in his pitching elbow has gotten worse during more than a month of rehabilitation.
A five-time all-star, Wagner also has a torn flexor pronator, which is a muscle in the forearm.
“The tear is now big enough that the doctors are recommending so-called ‘Tommy John’ surgery,” general manager Omar Minaya said. “If all goes well, he will be able to return to pitch in about a year’s time following the surgery.”
Footnotes.
With Chris Carpenter limited to relief duty the rest of the season, the Cardinals might call on their ace to be the closer.
• Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson will likely miss the remainder of the season because of a hairline fracture in his right index finger.
• Angels right-hander Jered Weaver was scratched from his scheduled start tonight against the Yankees because of cuts on his pitching hand.
• The Yankees plan to retain Joe Girardi as manager next year, co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said.
• The Orioles placed right-hander Jim Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder injury.
• Don Gutteridge, who played for four major-league teams and managed the White Sox in 1969 and 1970, died Sunday in Pittsburg, Kan. He was 96.
The Associated Press
