Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett has spent more time on the DL over the past two seasons than he has on the mound and after dealing with some issues related to surgery, he will be seeing a specialist after suffering numbness in his right hand.
According to ESPN.com, Beckett will be travelling to Texas to visit with the doctor who performed St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter's shoulder surgery to see what else he can do to get back healthy. Beckett said that he doesn't feel pain, but that he has been dealing with numbness in his hands and his fingers since being on the disabled list in May. The 33-year-old said that he has been having issues with his right hand and that it's hard for him to feel a baseball.
Beckett has had a rough season when he has been on the mound and is 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight starts with the team before going on the DL. He said that he felt numbness before some of those starts and he makes another pitcher the team has lost to injury for some time, along with
Zack Greinke and Chad Billingsley and now Matt Kemp is also on the DL with a hamstring injury. The report says that Beckett may need to retire depending on what happens with the injury and he said that it is a thought that has went through his head during that time. Beckett has one more year left on the four-year, $68 million contract he had with Boston before being traded and after coming over last year he played well and went 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA during that final stretch.
Beckett has always been a power pitcher and that is one reason why he may have having issues now. His strikeout rate has been the same as usual this year, but the injuries may be enough to derail the career of a pitcher with two championships and three All-Star appearances. He has made over 300 starts in his career and the wear and tear from his past shoulder issues along with his groin injury could combine for a retirement for the pitcher.
With Beckett possibly retiring to staying on the DL long term, the Dodger may want to try and make a big move for the future and one option could be to try and trade for Phillies starter Cliff Lee, as they may want to unload him depending on where the team is at the deadline. The Dodgers aren't afraid to make a move, as evidenced by the big trade for Beckett and Lee could be a nice fit in the NL West along with Greinke. The Phillies are nearly seven games behind the Braves in the division and are under .500 and if they feel that they can get a good package, they may deal him.
Lee has a massive contract and since the Phillies have a ton of payroll with Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, Lee might become the expendable one since Roy Halladay is on the DL. The Dodgers likely will do a wait and see approach with Beckett, but if things don't go well there is a chance they could try to make yet another big splash and snag Lee.
