If Yankees fans weren’t frustrated enough by losing a beloved prospect, now they lose the guy they got in return as well.
Yankees starter Michael Pineda, who has been on the DL all season with a shoulder injury, will reportedly require arthroscopic surgery due to a torn labrum.
Pineda underwent a dye-contrast MRI in New York Tuesday which showed that he had a right shoulder anterior labral tear. Arthroscopic surgery has already been scheduled for next Tuesday.
Pineda had been starting to make a comeback when he had a setback last week.
“We believe that this took place on that last singular pitch in the 15-pitch rehab outingin extended spring training,” Cashman said.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the surgery has a recovery time of one year, which means he will be out for the entire 2012 season. The rotator cuff is unaffected, so the team is hopeful he will return to full strength, and pitching velocity, next season.
Pineda, 23, was acquired in the offseason for highly-touted Yankees prospect Jesus Montero. He went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA and 173 strikeouts last season, but struggled down the stretch. Montero, meanwhile, quickly won over Yankees fans with a torrid start to his career. He hit .328 with four homers and 12 RBI in just 18 games last September.
The Yankees have been criticized since the move due to Pineda struggling in Spring Training and then starting the season on the DL. Pineda underwent a full physical before the trade was approved, including an MRI on the shoulder which showed no tear.
“We got a healthy player to the best of everybody’s knowledge,” Cashman said. “In no way do I, or the Yankees, believe the Mariners knew [of the injury]. Pineda was a fully healthy player when we got him.”
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