Carlos Beltran’s disappointing debut season as a Yankee may end earlier than expected. A last-minute scratch Wednesday with the same elbow injury that landed him on the disabled list, Beltran admits if there is no improvement in the next two or three days, he’ll shut his season down and have surgery sooner rather than later.
“It’s very frustrating, but it is what it is. There’s nothing I can do about it,’’ Beltran said after Wednesday’s 8-5 victory over the Rays. “I probably will give myself two or three more days, and if I cannot be able to go out and take a swing like I normally take in a game, then I might need to have the surgery … I’ll give myself just three days, and if it doesn’t get better we’ll talk about it.
“It is frustrating. But it’s something I’ve been dealing with almost the whole season, so at the end of the day it is what it is. Today I felt pain during [batting practice], and talked to the doctor after, and I have received already three cortisone [shots], so they don’t recommend another one. So basically we talk about what is the next step.
The 37-year-old outfielder found out on May 13 he had a bone spur in his elbow, was placed on the 15-day DL and missed 21 games. Then came a mid-July stint on the seven-day disabled list from a concussion and two fractured facial bones — suffered when a ball rebounded off the screen in batting practice and hit him — and missing games Aug. 20-22 due to the elbow again.
Beltran — who has just four hits in his last 31 at-bats and hitting a career-worst .236 with 15 home runs and just 49 RBIs — already was resigned to having offseason surgery. But after three cortisone shots, and now Wednesday’s setback, he’s facing the prospect of having his operation now, not in the winter.
“[His] elbow flared up again. Not sure what it means, or how long it’s going to take,” manager Joe Girardi said. “Carlos is going to have to make some decisions. I think eventually, this will lead to probably getting the bone chip out. Just a matter of when.’’
It has been a frustrating first campaign as a Yankee for Beltran, a proven big-game player of whom much was expected after signing a three-year, $45 million contract. Asked if this means Beltran would end up getting surgery sooner than anticipated, Girardi said that’s possible.
“[We’d] like to see him take a couple days to see where he’s at. Each time it’s kind of calmed down,’’ said Girardi, confirming more cortisone shots were not an option.