31 Danny Salazar SP

Salazar (shoulder) isn't expected to be healthy enough to begin the 2019 season with the Indians, Joe Noga of Cleveland.com reports.

Salazar was expected to start a throwing program in mid-December, though the Indians are already fairly certain the right-hander won't break camp with the big-league club when spring training comes to a close. He'll likely need to spend at least a few weeks in the minors rehabbing until he's ready to return to the major leagues. A better idea of Salazar's availability should become clearer as the season approaches.

Salazar (shoulder) is expected to start a throwing program sometime this week in Arizona, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Salazar underwent season-ending surgery on his right shoulder back in July, and it's unclear as to whether he'll be cleared for a normal spring training. The Indians figure to ease him back into throwing and will see how his shoulder responds. An update on Salazar's status should come closer to February.

Salazar (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract with Cleveland on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of FancredSports.com reports.

Salazar failed to pitch this past season due to a shoulder injury that required exploratory arthroscopic surgery. It's unclear whether the 28-year-old has resumed throwing at this point, so his status for Opening Day remains up in the air. In 2017, he posted a 4.28 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with a 12.7 K/9 across 103 innings.

Salazar (shoulder) may be able to resume throwing next month and is expected to build his arm back up as a starting pitcher, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

According to president Chris Antonetti, Salazar could be utilized as a reliever next year depending on roster needs. Since he's yet to begin throwing after undergoing shoulder surgery in early July, it's too early to project his role on the 2019 squad, though more should be known once the Indians are able to evaluate his progress in the coming months.

Salazar underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Monday and will miss the remainder of the season.

Salazar won't end up pitching a game at any level in 2018 after battling shoulder injuries all year. He won't resume throwing for another 12-to-16 weeks, at which point it will be too late for him to get up to speed by the end of the season, even if he's on the short end of that time frame. The Indians will hope that the surgery solved his shoulder woes for good, though fantasy owners will have a tough time next year trusting a player with a well-earned reputation for being injury-prone coming off a season in which he did not pitch at all.