Surgery will force Twins' Neshek to miss '09

The Twins lost reliever Pat Neshek for the 2009 season Tuesday when he was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right elbow, forcing the team into a quick re-examination of its offseason priorities.

Neshek, who has held opponents to a .188 career batting average, injured the elbow May 9 and missed the rest of the season, helping transform the team's bullpen from a longtime strength to a glaring weakness.

Neshek, 28, had a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in May, and the Twins medical staff recommended rehab instead of surgery. Neshek received a second opinion from noted orthopedist James Andrews, who also advised against surgery.

The hope was Neshek's elbow would recover by spring training, but he reinjured himself in a throwing session last week in Fort Myers, Fla.

A magnetic resonance imaging exam Tuesday confirmed the worst: The ligament is now completely torn.

Neshek will soon undergo Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery. Typical recovery time is 12 to 15 months, meaning the Twins now hope Neshek recovers for spring training in 2010.

"I'm extremely bummed out right now and am at a loss of words," Neshek wrote in an e-mail to the Star Tribune. "Kind of a numb feeling ... just depressed, I guess."

The injury adds urgency for the Twins to strengthen their bullpen while also trying to bolster their infield this offseason.

"[The bullpen] was a priority, and it continues to be a priority," Twins General Manager Bill Smith said. "We're going to have some young players within the organization that get a chance, and we're going to continue to look at free agents and trades."

The Twins see few fits on the free agent market, however, with insiders saying the most likely relief replacements will come internally or via trade.

With closer Joe Nathan entrenched, the Twins won't bid on a free agent closer such as Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes or Trevor Hoffman.

The setup market includes Juan Cruz, Damaso Marte and Doug Brocail, but all are Type A free agents, so signing them would cost the Twins next year's first-round draft pick.

The Twins pursued former Oakland closer Huston Street before the Athletics included him in this week's deal for Matt Holliday. Internally, the Twins felt that squashed their chances of acquiring Street, since the Rockies historically drive a harder bargain than the A's and will need a closer themselves to replace Fuentes.

There are other trade options, but the Twins have faith in their in-house candidates.

They know they'll be returning Jose Mijares, Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier and Craig Breslow. The hard-throwing Boof Bonser and Philip Humber could get relief chances, as could prospects Rob Delaney, Anthony Slama, Tim Lahey and Carlos Gutierrez.

Insiders say they'll even consider converting up-and-coming starters such as Anthony Swarzak and Jeff Manship into relief roles -- not necessarily in spring training, but as needs arise during the year.

Looking back, Smith had no regrets about how Neshek's injury was handled.

"Our preference was to try and rehab [the injury]," Smith said. "It was a partial tear, and we have had some success with this in the past. His second opinion agreed with that diagnosis.

"I don't think the plan was wrong. He reinjured it the other day, and now it's a complete tear, and that changes the diagnosis completely."

Added Neshek: "I really thought in my head I was going to be OK after doing all that work, and now it just went up in smoke."