Etherton to have shoulder surgery

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Reds announced Monday that right-hander Seth Etherton will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to remove a bone spur in his right shoulder and repair a torn labrum.

“Obviously, it's a setback, because it would have helped our club to have a healthy Seth Etherton,” said Reds general manager Jim Bowden, who acquired Etherton to bolster the starting rotation.

Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Reds' team physician who will perform the surgery, declined to issue a prognosis. “You don't really know until you get in there,” Kremchek said.

Still, conservative estimates say Etherton, one of Cincinnati's most significant offseason acquisitions, will be sidelined for at least a couple of months.

The Reds obtained Etherton from Anaheim Dec.10 for shortstop prospect Wilmy Caceres. Etherton, 24, went 5-1 with a 5.52 ERA in 11 starts as a rookie last year until tendinitis in his right shoulder forced him to finish the season on the disabled list.

The situation is reminiscent of the recent controversy involving the Toronto Blue Jays, who acquired the lame-armed Mike Sirotka as part of a deal that sent ace left-hander David Wells to the Chicago White Sox. The Jays said the White Sox knowingly sent them an injured player, but commissioner Bud Selig ruled this month the trade was valid.

Bowden did not echo Toronto's complaint. He compared Etherton to relief ace Danny Graves, who had shoulder surgery about two months after he came to the Reds from Cleveland in the John Smiley trade July 31, 1997.

“Graves was probably hurt when we got him; Etherton was probably hurt when we got him,” Bowden said. “But hopefully Etherton will make the same type of comeback that Danny did.”

Added Bowden: “We would still make the deal again.”

Along with right-handers Elmer Dessens and Leo Estrella, Etherton was found to have weakness in his shoulder when he reported to the Reds' training camp. While Dessens and Estrella resumed pitching, Etherton made just two exhibition appearances, recording a 21.60 ERA in 1 2/3 innings.

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