Yankees, Pedro Feliciano Put Off Shoulder Surgery... For Now
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — Yankees left-hander Pedro Feliciano will put off shoulder surgery for at least 1½ months.
Sidelined since spring training, Feliciano was examined Monday in Pensacola, Fla., by Dr. James Andrews, who recommended a six-week program of a shoulder strengthening.
New York said Feliciano will remain with the team during the rehabilitation process.
The Yankees said last week that Feliciano has a torn capsule in his left shoulder and might need season-ending surgery.
"Capsular tears are very serious," general manager Brian Cashman said. "In all likelihood he's looking at a significant surgery."
Feliciano signed a two-year, $8 million free agent contract in the offseason after making 344 relief appearances for the Mets since 2007, a major league record for a four-year stretch. He led the majors in games each of the last three seasons, including a career-high 92 outings in 2010.
"I want to be here. I'm the guy who likes to pitch every day, like I've been doing the last three or four years," Feliciano said last week. "And now to be shut down for maybe a year — I don't know if I could handle it."
Cashman also defended his comments from earlier April that the Mets "abused" the reliever, but said "I'm not blaming the Mets for what was happening now."
Do you think Feliciano's six-week shoulder program will change anything? Sound off in the comments below...
(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
