The Mariners corps of healthy pitchers decreased by one Monday morning with the clubs announcement out of spring training camp in Peoria, AZ., that left-hander Nate Robertson, will have surgery Wednesday on his left elbow.
Robertson, who was a long-shot contender to land in the rotation but also a candidate for the bullpen, will have loose bodies removed from his elbow by Dr. Neil ElAttrache, the team orthopedist of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Although Dr. ElAttrache is new to working on Mariner pitchers, he has performed previous surgeries on Robertsons left elbow.
The Mariners said Monday that the elbow has bothered Robertson during his last two spring training games. He met with trainer Rick Griffin, Mariner medical director Dr. Edward Khalfayan and Seattle team physician Dr. Mitch Storey.
Robertson, who will join David Aardsma, recovering from left hip surgery, and Shawn Kelley, recovering from modified Tommy John-style ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow, on the disabled list to start the season, is expected to resume throwing in about four weeks.
It already had been a tough spring for Robertson, whod signed a minor league contract on Jan. 20. Hes pitched in three games, going 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in seven innings. Hes been a starter in his career, mostly in Detroit. He has a 57-77 record and 5.01 career ERA.
Twitter: @JHickey3
