ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers reliever Carlos Almanzar
is scheduled to have ligament replacement surgery in his right
elbow Friday and will miss the rest of the season.
"We laid it out for him, and it was his decision to make,"
Rangers manager Buck Showalter said before Monday's game against
the Detroit Tigers.
The Rangers are now without their top two setup men for closer
Francisco Cordero. Almanzar follows Frank Francisco, who had
season-ending ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow April
29.
Almanzar had allowed eight runs in five innings of his six
appearances since an extended stay on the bereavement list. In his
last two appearances, Almanzar allowed home runs to the first
batter he faced.
He was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 1 with
inflammation in his right elbow. Showalter said Almanzar continued
to struggle during his rehabilitation.
Just before the season began, Almanzar found out his mother and
brother had died in the Dominican Republic. The pitcher went home
and didn't rejoin the Rangers until April 15.
Almanzar went 7-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 2004. Francisco, the other
top setup man for the Rangers, struck out 60 over 51 1-3 innings
and had a 3.33 ERA.