David Aardsma’s comeback attempt has fallen short, as the Mariners have announced their closer will undergo Tommy John surgery next Wednesday.
Aardsma hasn’t pitched for Seattle this season. He had surgery on his hip last fall and spent this winter and spring in recovery.
Aardsma progressed to the point where he was able to appear in 5 games with the Mariners’ Triple-A squad, but struggled severely. Over his 4 innings pitched the 29 year old allowed 7 earned runs on 8 hits and 4 free passes.
If the numbers didn’t send up enough red flags, Aardsma began complaining of arm discomfort in early May. He was diagnosed with a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, but decided to attempt nonsurgical rehab to try and avoid surgery.
An MRI this week revealed that the rehab wasn’t working as hoped, and Aardsma finally gave in. He’s scheduled to have season ending surgery performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum this week.
Since coming over from Boston in a trade in January of 2009, Aardsma has been the Mariners closer. He saved 38 and 31 games in 2009 and 2010 with impressive whips of under 1.17 each season.
At this point it’s unknown when or even if Aardsma will pitch again for Seattle. I would assume it would benefit both sides for him to remain a Mariner, even if Seattle decides to not tender the right hander a contract this offseason. If that were the case the two could come to a free agent agreement that would be more incentive laden.
The Mariners are on the hook for $4.5 million for Aardsma this season they may want to see him through the process to hopefully recoup some of that loss.
Seattle will be responsible for Aardsma’s rehab until he is picked up by another club. I doubt Aardsma would want to begin as taxing a situation as rehab will be only to have to become acquainted with an entirely new training staff part of the way through.
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