NewsLidge, Ibanez and Eyre to have surgeries
Closer to have loose body removed from right elbow
By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com
11/07/09 6:45 PM EST
PHILADELPHIA -- It turns out Phillies closer Brad Lidge was more injured in 2009 than he let on.He will have surgery Wednesday to remove a loose body from his right elbow. He also will have his right flexor/pronator tendon evaluated. If the tendon needs to be repaired, Lidge is unlikely to be ready to pitch by the beginning of Spring Training -- although he should be ready a short time after. If the tendon is fine, he should be ready to pitch when camp opens in February in Clearwater, Fla.
Lidge, who went 0-8 with a 7.21 ERA and 31 saves in 42 opportunities, also spent time on the disabled list this season with inflammation in his right knee. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Friday that Lidge's knee is fine.
Lidge is not the only Phillies player to require surgery next week.
Left fielder Raul Ibanez will have a sports hernia surgically repaired, and southpaw Scott Eyre will have loose bodies removed from his left elbow. Both surgeries will be on Monday.
Ibanez went on the disabled list June 18 with a strained left groin. It was later revealed in a Sports Illustrated story that he had a small but significant muscle tear in his abdomen. It could have affected Ibanez's play during the final months of the season. He hit .312 with 22 home runs, 59 RBIs and a .656 slugging percentage in 62 games through June 17. Ibanez batted .232 with 12 homers, 34 RBIs and a .448 slugging percentage in 72 games the rest of the regular season.
Eyre is a potential free agent. Amaro said the Phillies will decide if they are interested in re-signing Eyre based on the results from his surgery.
Both Ibanez and Eyre are expected to be ready to play by Spring Training.
Phillies doctor Michael Ciccotti will perform the surgeries for Lidge and Eyre. Bill Meyers will perform Ibanez's surgery.
Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
