Surgery Still An Option For Blue Jays Brandon Morrow

April 9, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow (23) sits in dugout after being relieved fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

It has been nearly 3 months since we last saw right-hander Brandon Morrow in a Toronto Blue Jays uniform, when forearm soreness landed him on the disabled list May 28th. After several starts and stops along the rehabilitation trail, we know the Morrow’s season is over due to an entrapped radial nerve.

What we don’t yet know is whether or not that injury will require offseason surgery.

According to Morrow, as discussed with Evan Peaslee at MLB.com, the next step on the road to recovery won’t be known until he can resume throwing in 3 weeks.

"“To test it, I need to be off the mound throwing bullpens at 100 percent effort level. I can’t go through and baby it. I need to know if it’s going to be good or not,” said Morrow"

Essentially, the right-hander will see if the nerve has loosened up enough for him to rebuild his arm strength through his standard offseason work-outs. If it has not, then Morrow will require surgery to release the nerve, an operation that has a recovery time of 3 months.

If surgery is the next step, it would take place in October. That would put his return to throwing in January, which would put him a little bit behind the 8-ball when spring training opens up in February.

After a lost season that saw Morrow make just 10 starts, posting a 2-3 record, a 5.63 ERA, and a career-low 7.0 K/9 ratio, the 29-year-old will have extra motivation to make things right in 2014. He is entering the last guaranteed year of his contract with the Blue Jays, with Toronto holding a $10 million option for 2015.

If Morrow pitches like he did in 2012, when he was the Jays lone 10-game winner and posted a sterling 2.96 ERA and was worth 3.2 Wins Above Replacement (Baseball-Reference), then that option becomes a no-brainer. If not, the $1 million buy-out that Toronto also holds becomes a much more realistic option.