Carlos Beltran has informed the Yankees he is going to have Dr. James Andrews examine his painful right elbow that houses a bone spur, which was painful enough to land him on the disabled list Thursday.
And if the cortisone pills which followed a cortisone injection Monday don’t work inside a two-week period, general manager Brian Cashman believes surgery could be an option that could shelve the switch-hitting right fielder for three months.
“I’d say more like 6-to-12 weeks if he needed surgery,” Cashman said. “Because it’s his throwing arm, if you wanted to look at him exclusively as a DH, maybe it brings it closer to 6-to-8 weeks. If you’re looking for a full-time outfielder, it might be a little longer, because you need the throwing side of it to be taken care of.
“We’re hoping it’s not an issue, but maybe it is an issue. If it is an issue, we’ll have to deal with it.”
Earlier Thursday, Beltran said he was informed by the Yankees’ medical team that surgery could cost him six to eight weeks.
Beltran is hoping the cortisone alleviates the problem to the point where he can play. That’s something he can’t do at the moment, and since manager Joe Girardi didn’t know when Beltran might be able to participate the move was made to put the 36-year-old Beltran on the DL for the seventh time as a big leaguer.
“They decided to put me on the DL and the reason is that I’m getting better but not capable of swinging the bat 100 percent,’’ said Beltran, who removed himself from Monday night’s game when he felt sharp pain taking swings in the batting cage between at-bats. “If in 15 days it doesn’t get better, we have to make another decision.’’
That decision would be surgery and open the door for Ichiro Suzuki to receive regular playing time in right field.
“Ich has done a real good job and will get thrust into more action,’’ Girardi said of the 40-year-old Ichiro, who wasn’t in the lineup for the fourth straight game Thursday night when the Yankees and Mets closed the Subway Series at Citi Field.
Ichiro, who was batting .364 (20-for-55) in 30 games, said the lower back problem he suffered diving for a ball Sunday in Milwaukee was improving but wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to play Thursday.
“I have to go outside and hit out there and see how I feel then,’’ said Ichiro, who was limited to indoor work since getting hurt.
Girardi was hoping to have Ichiro available off the bench Thursday because if Ichiro wasn’t able to play Girardi’s lone reserve outfield was Zoilo Almonte.
Beltran said he isn’t close to swinging a bat.
“There’s nothing I can do about it. I have to find a way to get betterand get back,’’ said Beltran, who was batting .234 (30-for-128) and was fighting a 5-for-27 (.185) slump before going on the DL. “I’ve never had a problem with my elbow. This is the first time it’s happened.’’
Since Beltran hasn’t played since Monday night, the Yankees can back-date the DL assignment to Tuesday. That means the first day he would be eligible to play is May 28, the last of three games against his former team, the Cardinals, in St. Louis.
Beltran inquired about a second cortisone shot and was put on hold.
“I asked about it and I am waiting to talk to the doctor,’’ Beltran said. “That will be something that I pursue.’’
“When he’s out there, we need him to be out there healthy, so he can perform,” Cashman said. “If he’s not in a position to really perform … the worst thing we don’t want is that in-between stuff where he’s trying to get through something that’s not allowing it. That’s the no-man’s land that none of us want to be in.”