Adams sidelined for beginning of '09

Reliever Adams is likely to miss start of next season after surgery

The Padres learned Wednesday they likely will open the 2009 season without one of their better relievers in 2008, Mike Adams.

Adams said will have surgery Friday to repair a torn labrum and damage in his rotator cuff.

“I'm going to shoot to return in early May,” Adams said. “But I've got to be smart about it. At the earliest, I'll be back Opening Day.”

After Angels doctor Lewis Yocum performs the surgery the Padres will have a better idea when Adams can return.

“We don't know exactly what Dr. Yocum is going to have to do until he gets in there,” Padres trainer Todd Hutcheson said. “I don't think they are going to find anything that's going to affect his pitching. The big thing is going to be recovery time.”

Statistically, Adams had the best season of any Padres reliever. The right-hander fashioned a 2.48 ERA in 65 1/3 innings, striking out 74 with 19 walks and a .209 batting average allowed.

Adams, 30, said the surgery will be the first on his arm. “It's something I can't avoid,” he said. “The only thing I can do is be optimistic.”

Even before learning Adams would need surgery, Padres General Manager Kevin Towers had said that upgrading the bullpen was one of his many tasks this offseason. Among the 16 bullpens in the National League, only the Pirates' ERA was higher than the Padres' 4.45 mark.

NOTABLE

-- Double-A left-hander Steve Garrison, rated in June by Towers as perhaps the Padres' best pitching prospect, had surgery to his rotator cuff and might not return before June, said Grady Fuson, director of scouting and development.

-- Fuson said catcher Mitch Canham, who batted .285 for Lake Elsinore, had “minor surgery” on his left wrist but “will be good to go by spring training.”

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Adams sidelined for beginning of '09

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