More: Valentine says Aceves will close
Boston Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey could be out for months following thumb surgery (via Red Sox).
Andrew Bailey will undergo surgery Wednesday in Cleveland to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, and it's unknown how long the closer will be out of action.
Bailey was examined by Dr. Mark Belsky and Dr. Matthew Leibman in Boston on Monday and then saw Dr. Thomas Graham of the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday.
This won't cost Bailey his season, but as Baseball Nation points out, Bailey's appearances have declined each year he's been in the majors:
Just as a fun fact, here are Andrew Bailey's year-to-year major-league appearance totals:
2009: 68
2010: 47
2011: 42
The team is not sure when Bailey injured the thumb. While he is out the Red Sox could turn to Mark Melancon or Alfredo Aceves.
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