Red Sox Closer Andrew Bailey To Undergo Surgery On Right Thumb
BOSTON (CBS) – Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey will undergo surgery on his injured right thumb Wednesday, just one day before the season begins Thursday in Detroit.
"Andrew Bailey was examined yesterday by Dr. Mark Belsky and Dr. Matthew Leibman in Boston and today by Dr. Thomas Graham in Cleveland. It was determined that Andrew should undergo surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb. The surgery is scheduled to be performed by Dr. Graham tomorrow in Cleveland," said the Red Sox, in a statement.
CSNNE's Sean McAdam is reporting, via a source close to the situation, that the surgery could keep the new Sox closer out for three to four months.
When speaking to reporters Tuesday, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine did not name an interim closer but said he would like one person to take the bulk of the save opportunities instead of going with closer by committee. He wanted to speak with that player before making an announcement, so we could know who the new closer is by the end of the day.
Mark Melancon appears to be the likely candidate, after spending last season as Houston's closer, but Valentine could also elect to go Alfredo Aceves or even Vicente Padilla, who began last season closing games for the Dodgers.
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Either way, the Red Sox are starting the season with a very big hole in the back of their bullpen.
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