The Cincinnati Reds put starting pitcher Homer Bailey on the disabled list due to a ligament strain in his pitching elbow.
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Reds Put Bailey on Disabled List, Considering Surgery
Tuesday, April 28
The Reds are considering surgery as an option for Bailey’s ailing elbow, Joe Kay of The Associated Press reported. Kay passed along comments from manager Bryan Price.
“A lot of times, you want to kick the tires and make sure,” Price said. “Not everything needs to be corrected with surgery. There are other ways to do things. “So there are some options out there beyond surgery. That being said, that would be one of the options.”
Kay added, “Either way, Bailey will miss a significant amount of time recovering from his latest elbow problem.”
The team’s official Twitter account noted on April 27 that Bailey would go to the disabled list with a ligament strain in his elbow and pitcher Carlos Contreras would take Bailey’s spot on the major league squad.
Manager Bryan Price discussed how long Bailey could be out, per John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer:
Bailey made two starts in the early going this season and has a 5.56 ERA and 1.76 WHIP. The 28-year-old boasts a 4.19 career ERA and agreed to a six-year, $105 million contract with the Reds before the start of the 2014 campaign, with a mutual option for a seventh season.
Reds broadcaster Jeff Brantley seemed to notice something wrong with Bailey earlier this season, per Lance McAlister of 700 WLW in Cincinnati:
Cincinnati will need someone to step into the starting rotation if the injury forces Bailey to miss extensive time, especially since it is far too early in the season to consider a four-man rotation.
One potential candidate is southpaw Tony Cingrani, who started 11 games for the Reds last year and has four appearances this season out of the bullpen. He only allowed one earned run in 5.1 innings of work thus far this year and has experience as a starter in the National League Central.
It would also give the starting rotation a left-handed presence among right-handers Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Anthony DeSclafani and Jason Marquis. However, the Reds certainly hope Bailey can return to form soon, especially given the contract he signed last year.
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