Alexi Ogando Shut Down for Three Weeks

In news that doesn't exactly surprise me, Alexi Ogando has ligament damage in his pitching elbow, and accordingly, will be shut down for at least three weeks.

The Rangers are saying, for now, that surgery will not be necessary, but after seeing the way injuries to pitchers, specifically elbow injuries, have ended the seasons of many Major League pitchers, I'll be legitimately surprised if Ogando is able to contribute anything of value to the Rangers in 2014.

Beyond the surface of his 2014 struggles, Alexi has lacked the fireball velocity that once made him one of the most unhittable relievers in baseball. A healthy and locked in Alexi Ogando is a piece worth having, but if some long-term rest, and dare I say, surgery, would get him back on the right track, that would seem to be the most prudent course of action.

I'm heavily speculating that surgery might even be an option at this point, but I don't think it's too far out of the realm of possibilities either. In any case, Texas will essentially get Tanner Scheppers back in his place, so perhaps the net tradeoff, given Ogando's struggles, might actually help the bullpen for now.