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Rangers Jarrod Saltalamacchia Still Feeling Numbness in Shoulder, Return Uncertain

Posted on August 31st, 2009 3:48pm by Evan Grant
Filed under Baseball, Breaking News, Burning Questions

Updated, 5:11 pm: Richardson to be added to roster Tuesday.

ARLINGTON - The possibility that C Jarrod Saltalamacchia has played his last game this season grows. Saltalamacchia has cut short his rehab assignment after two days because of recurring symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in his shoulder. He played two games for Double-A Frisco over the weekend, but exited both games early.

Saltalamacchia said he started feeling numbness in the shoulder in the fifth inning Sunday and, by the seventh, he had a hard time with feeling in his hands. He plans to speak with Rangers doctors this afternoon and will seek a second opinion to determine if there is any other treatment besides surgery. Surgery to remove a rib and improve blood flow to his arm would knock him out for the season.

“I’m not happy because I want to get back and help the team,” Saltalamacchia said Monday. “But I’ve got to be fair to myself and fair to my teammates. I’m not going to be activated on Tuesday, but I’m not giving up yet. Surgery is the last option; I want to see if there is anything else we can do.”

Saltalamacchia said he believes the chances of having surgery are at least “50-50″ at this point.

While the Rangers had been more cautiously optimistic about Saltalamacchia’s return than he had been, it still does create some roster issues. The Rangers would like to have a third catcher for September. Manager Ron Washington said that C Kevin Richardson, who spent a couple of days on the big league roster before C Ivan Rodriguez was acquired, will be added on Tuesday when rosters can be expanded. Since there is currently one spot open on the 40-man roster, the Rangers could add Richardson without repercussions. But, Washington also said RHP Brandon McCarthy would be activated from the 60-day DL on Tuesday to start the second game of the doubleheader. Returning McCarthy to the active roster will require moving someone else off. The options: Move Saltalamacchia to the 60-day DL or outright/release another player.The Rangers could avoid moving roster pieces around by recalling C Max Ramirez, but he’s been injured and ineffective for much of the

Having a third catcher will make it easier for manager Ron Washington to use Rodriguez as a DH against left-handed pitching and would still leave a backup on the benc in casae the starter was injured.

7 Comments to “Rangers Jarrod Saltalamacchia Still Feeling Numbness in Shoulder, Return Uncertain”

Ehren @ August 31st, 2009 at 4:20 pm

He should go ahead and get the operation performed. The chances of it flaring up again are too great.

@B.Money: That comment is really unnecessary here.
Bob @ August 31st, 2009 at 4:51 pm

Wow. It is unessary, but really, really funny
Jack Daddy @ August 31st, 2009 at 4:56 pm

Evan – is a move of Max to the 60 day DL with “wrist soreness” just to blatant a move by the tean to even consider? I’m sure they could get a doctor to diagnose what they need, as I’m sure the thins are probably still sore.
B. Money @ August 31st, 2009 at 5:06 pm

@Ehren: Sorry to offend. I normally wouldn’t make that joke but it was too perfect. Evan pulled it down.

@Anybody else: Twas just a joke. Basically a comment on the fact that we’re about to have at least three guys on this team missing a rib. What are the odds?
Ehren @ August 31st, 2009 at 5:21 pm

@B: it was really funny and I thought the same thing I just didn’t want someone’s kid see that word and ask dad what it meant. LOL
Evan Grant @ August 31st, 2009 at 5:23 pm

@Jack: Max played briefly yesterday and has played often recently. Suppose it’s something the Rangers could do, but if you keep doing that with guys, at some point, somebody is going to speak up about blatantly circumventing the rules.
gordosan @ September 1st, 2009 at 9:39 am

I’m not surprised. A physician rarely says that surgery is needed on the first visit. Salty may as well bite the bullet and undergo surgery now.