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Indians catcher Victor Martinez gutted it out as long as he possibly could. After playing through a left hamstring strain since Opening Day and an inflamed right elbow since mid May, Martinez was finally put on the disabled list on Thursday.
“I gave it everything I had for the longest I could,” Martinez told MLB.com. “I just couldn’t take it any more.”
An MRI exam taken on Thursday revealed what the Indians already suspected–loose bodies floating around the back of Martinez’s elbow. The 29-year old catcher will undergo arthroscopic surgery Friday at the Cleveland Clinic, and be sidelined for at least six to eight weeks.
“When I really wanted to put something on a swing, I wasn’t able,” Martinez said. “Every time I tried to get extension, I felt a sharp pain in my elbow. Man, it was tough. It’s tough to play like that.”
This development is obviously best for V-Mart in the long run and it may not be as dire as fantasy owners expect. Why? Kelly Shoppach assumes the starting catcher duties and he’s talented enough to be starting on a handful of other major league teams. At first glance his .238 average leaves a bit to be desired, but it’s tough to get in a groove when you’ve got just 84 at bats under your belt. His four walks compared to 27 strikeouts is obviously a bad sign, but his three homers in limited action are enough to suggest he has some potential to contribute in the power categories.
If you aren’t interested in hitching your wagon to Shoppach, consider the following players who could still be free agents in your league: the Pirates’ Ryan Doumit, Rays’ Dioner Navarro, Diamondbacks’ Chris Snyder, or Royals’ Miguel Olivo. As previously mentioned, V-Mart should be sidelined a minimum six to eight weeks, so undertstand that whomever you rely on may only be a temporary replacement.
Photo courtesy of Tribe Treasures
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