The Los Angeles Dodgers are losing star closer Edwin Díaz for the next few months.
The team announced Monday that they have placed the pitcher on the injured list, citing “loose bodies” in his right elbow. (“Loose bodies” refers to pieces of bone or cartilage that have broken off and are floating freely in the joint.)
Díaz will undergo surgery to clean up the joint, and is expected to return in the second half of the season, per the team. In turn, L.A. is calling up Jake Eder, an offseason acquisition from the Washington Nationals.
Díaz signed a record-setting three-year, $69 million contract to join the Dodgers this offseason after spending six seasons with the New York Mets. So far this season, Díaz has made seven appearances for L.A., picking up four saves.
His most recent appearance, though, was his worst: In a 9-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, Díaz entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, but preceded to give up two runs. He was then relieved by Kyle Hurt, and finished the outing with three earned runs without recording an out.
It’s unclear if his injury contributed to Sunday’s appearance. The 32-year-old will now be out for approximately the next three months, with the Dodgers hoping that he will return after the All-Star break in July.
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