Andrew Bailey Has Strained Right Forearm

How about some rare good news after a player visits Dr. James Andrews?

Normally, when a player visits Dr. Andrews, the end result is some sort of surgery—usually Tommy John—and we don’t see that player again for at least another year. When Bailey left Monday’s game after grabbing his right arm as if someone hit him with hammer, it looked like Bailey blew out his arm and his season was over. Then when it was announced that Bailey was going to visit Dr. Andrews, I thought he was toast.

However, Oakland A’s pitcher Andrew Bailey won’t be needing surgery any time soon and got some good news from Dr. Andrews. Bailey was diagnosed with only a strained forearm and can begin throwing after some rest. Bailey can ramp up gradually as long as he is pain free, but I wouldn’t expect him to be ready by Opening Day.

Luckily for the A’s, they are pretty stacked in the pen, so they could possibly withstand the loss of Bailey for an extended period of time. The A’s could turn to Brad Ziegler, Grant Balfour or Brian Fuentes to close games while Bailey is out.

My guess is that Fuentes will get the first crack at closing games for the A’s.

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