Lefthander Francisco Liriano and the Minnesota Twins found out yesterday that he needs Tommy John surgery, a ligament transplant procedure, and will likely miss the 2007 season.
The 23-year-old Liriano met with Dr. Lewis Yocum. The surgery is scheduled for Monday.
Promoted to the rotation in mid-May, Liriano went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 121 innings as a rookie.
Martínez realistic Pedro Martínez says that if his right shoulder doesn't return to full strength, he would consider retiring. Martínez had surgery Oct. 5 to repair a torn rotator cuff. "To go back I have to recover. I have to be healthy," said Martínez. "But if God doesn't want that, then I would have to think about giving it all up." . . . The Los Angeles Dodgers declined Eric Gagne's $12 million option, making the former NL Cy Young Award winner a free agent . . . Barry Bonds and the Giants have begun talks about a new contract for 2007. "I have had preliminary discussions with the Giants and I believe those discussions will continue," Bonds's agent, Jeff Borris, said.
