NEW YORK _ Jake Arrieta has informed the Phillies that he has a bone spur in his right elbow, manager Gabe Kapler confirmed Sunday morning.
Now what will the team do about it?
Arrieta will be examined within the next few days, according to Kapler, who said the problem has existed "for a little while" but that he was alerted to it last week before the veteran right-hander threw a between-starts bullpen session. At that time, Arrieta said he believed he could delay surgery until the offseason.
It's unclear whether Arrieta's recent struggles _ in particular Saturday night's six-run, 11-hit dud in which he hit three New York Mets batters with change-ups _ altered his outlook.
"He's the toughest guy out there and has wanted to pitch through it," Kapler said before the Phillies played Sunday in the final game before the four-day all-star break. "And we always respect the competitor that Jake is. He's going to get evaluated in the next few days by our team doctors and we'll do what's best at that point for Jake and the Phillies."
Arrieta has allowed 29 runs on 53 hits in 38 innings over his last seven starts. He has a 6.63 earned-run average over that span and a 4.67 mark in 18 starts overall that ranks 40th among 43 National League pitchers with enough innings to qualify for the ERA title.
If it is determined that he can't exacerbate the problem by pitching, the Phillies will have to weigh the long-term value of a compromised Arrieta versus potential replacements. Starting pitching depth hasn't been an organizational strength. Jerad Eickhoff was ineffective before getting injured; triple-A options Cole Irvin and Enyel De Los Santos haven't engendered confidence.
The Phillies have thus far been reluctant to rush top pitching prospect Adonis Medina to the big leagues. The 22-year-old right-hander has a 3.90 ERA, 46 strikeouts and 25 walks in 67 innings across 14 starts at double-A Reading.
Arrieta pitched through a bone spur for part of the 2011 season with the Baltimore Orioles before finally succumbing to season-ending surgery.
"I think it's always a balancing act," Kapler said. "And the more information we can get from Jake and from our team doctors, the better equipped we are to make good decisions on behalf of both Jake for the long term and for the Philadelphia Phillies."
The Phillies signed Arrieta to a three-year, $75 million contract last year. He may opt out after this season and re-enter the free-agent market, although that's exceedingly unlikely given his performance this season and now his health status. He's slated to make $20 million in 2020.
Arrieta alluded to an injury but refused to offer specifics after Saturday night's 6-5 loss to the Mets in which he became joined Carl Doyle of the 1940 Brooklyn Dodgers as the only pitchers ever to allow at least 11 hits and hit at least three batters while completing less than five innings.
In particular, Arrieta cited his inability to command his change-up as a sign that something was amiss.
"I labored physically," he said after blowing early 3-1 and 4-2 leads and giving up a three-run double to Mets backup catcher Tomas Nido that put the Phillies in a 6-4 hole. "I wasn't able to put the ball where I wanted to. It's been that way for a few weeks. Just physically not in a great spot."
Asked directly if he was injured, Arrieta paused for several seconds and let out a deep sigh.
"Overall I feel all right," he said. "But we'll see. We'll see in the next couple of days."
Kapler expressed confidence on Saturday night that Arrieta would be able turn around his season and said the Phillies "will be leaning heavily on him. That was true at the beginning of the season and it's true now as well."
That no longer seems like a guarantee.
