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Mets closer Bobby Parnell needs to undergo surgery on his neck due to a herniated disk, the club told reporters (MLB.com) Monday night. He'll have the procedure done Tuesday.
No timetable has been given as to a possible return date for Parnell, but there's little reason to bring him back in 2013. He has previously been declared "unlikely" to return this season. Now there's a neck surgery with only a few weeks left in a season in which the Mets aren't contending. Basically, do the math.
Parnell had previously stated publicly he wanted to do everything possible to avoid surgery and return this season, so apparently things weren't progressing for him.
Parnell, 29, emerged as a quality closer for the Mets this season. He converted 22 of 26 save chances with a 2.16 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 44 strikeouts in 50 innings. He's under team control through the 2015 season, so expect Parnell to enter the 2014 season as the Mets' closer.
