TORONTO – Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Cecil are the latest Toronto Blue Jays claimed by the season’s relentless attrition, the two all-stars shut down for the final 12 games of 2013 on Tuesday.
Encarnacion, the club’s MVP with a .272 average, 36 homers and 104 RBIs, will have surgery to repair a cartilage tear in his left wrist that has dogged him for the past month but became unbearable over the last two weeks.
“It’s not a good feeling,” Encarnacion said. “I’m happy I’m going to get it done, it bugs me a lot every swing I make.”
Cecil, 5-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 60 games out of the bullpen, is struggling with a nerve issue right in the middle of his left elbow, and while an MRI is planned, he anticipates needing rest and nothing more.
Asked if he feared the possibility of Tommy John surgery, Cecil replied: “Nope, it’s just precautionary right now. I’m about 90 per cent sure that’s what it is, (the MRI) IS just for precautionary reasons. It’s a matter of getting rest the whole off-season and the little bit extra that we have here, and probably doing some extra things to strengthen the muscles around the nerve.”
The duo become the 21st and 22nd different players placed on the disabled list by the Blue Jays this season, for a total of 26 stints. J.P. Arencibia and Adam Lind are the only regular position players to avoid the DL this year.
