Dodgers right-hander Jon Garland's shoulder injury may sideline him for the remainder of the season, a source tells Tony Jackson of ESPN Los Angeles. Garland has been on the DL for the last month with inflammation in his throwing shoulder and was looking for a second opinion on his injury, but the source tells Jackson that Garland won't pitch again in 2011 even if he opts to avoid surgery.
If Garland's season is indeed over, it will probably mark the end of his tenure with the Dodgers. The 31-year-old signed a one-year, $5MM contract with Los Angeles last November that included a club option worth $8MM for 2012 that would have vested had Garland thrown 190 innings. This looked like a safe bet at the time given that the durable Garland had reached the 190-inning plateau in each of previous nine seasons. As it happened, the righty made his first two career trips to the DL this year. Given Garland's health and the Dodgers' financial issues, there is little to no chance the club would pick up that $8MM option for next year.
Garland has a 4.33 ERA and a 1.4 K/BB ratio in nine starts for L.A. this season. This was Garland's second stint with the Dodgers, as he pitched for the club in 2009 followng an August 31st trade from Arizona. Garland's strong September (a 2.72 ERA in six starts) helped the Dodgers win the NL West, though Garland was left off the postseason roster.
