Escobar Likely Out For Season

Angels pitcher Kelvim Escobar may be forced to opt for surgery after learning that he has a tear in his shoulder. Although the Angels plan to put him on a strength training program to see if it is not that bad, but there is growing concern among baseball executives that shoulders are very shaky, and that he might be better off having the surgery. Losing Escobar, a nineteen game winner, would really hurt the Angels this season. Escobar, however, is not just thinking about his season, but the rest of his career: “It could be my career. I'm not going to lie to you guys,” said Escobar, 31, who is in the second year of a three-year, $28.5 million contract with the Angels. “I'm concerned. I don't even know if I'm going to pitch again. … Retirement has gotten into my head, too. It's hard to be doing the rehab. You get frustrated. You want to get out there and play. The Angels have a lot of depth and I do not think they will have too many problems, but the Mariners are going to give them a run for their money.

The LA Times is looking at possible candidates for the Angels rotation, and have tossed out names like Kameron Loe, Jon Lieber, Aaron Laffey, or Joe Blanton, to name a few. The Angels are not ones to trade away their minor league depth, so I doubt they will make a trade. However, come July and the Mariners and Angels are fighting for the division lead, a trade could come.