Ted Lilly Had Surgery? Yesterday? On His Throwing Shoulder?

Reports are flying out of Arizona, where the Chicago Cubs are having their first winter management meetings with new owner Tom Ricketts, that apparently 2009 hasn't bottomed out just yet.

Apparently, the team's only All Star might be a question mark to begin the 2010 season.

That's right folks, it appears that Ted Lilly had arthroscopic surgery on his left (pitching) shoulder yesterday.  The Cubs aren't releasing a lot of details, obviously, but they did say they hope Lilly's ready "within the month of April."

Hold up...the last time I checked, the season starts at the beginning of April.

Lilly is entering the final season of his contract with the Cubs and was arguably the team's best starter last year.  He went 12-9 with 21 quality starts last year, accumulating only 177 innings pitched.  He had a 3.10 ERA last year as well.

This past season was filled with the Cubs desperately trying to get their full roster healthy and on the field.  If you look back on the Cubs recent history of projecting a pitcher's health after early-November surgery, consider their accuracy with Kerry Wood or Mark Prior.

This news is not good for the Cubs heading into a big season.  Lilly and Derrek Lee both have expiring contracts, and Aramis Ramirez's deal has a player option for 2011.  It's a fairly safe assumption that Lilly could miss all of April, and the Cubs will need to find additional starting pitching help this winter in a weak free agent class.