Wells to have cyst removed from shoulder

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Wells

TORONTO -- Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells will have surgery after the season to remove a cyst caused by a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

A cyst is a sac within tissue containing air, fluids or semisolid material.

Wells said he sustained the injury sometime last year. He'll have surgery once the season ends, or earlier if doctors think he needs additional recovery time. Either way, he's expected to be ready in time for spring training.

"They say this is a fairly simple procedure," Wells said. "Obviously, shoulders are difficult, you have to be careful with them, but it should be a full recovery and they say things should be back to normal once they're done."

Wells, who signed a seven-year, $126 million contract extension last winter, is batting .251 with 16 homers and 79 RBIs in 140 games this season. He said the injury has forced him to adjust his swing.

"It hasn't been as consistent as it has been in the past," Wells said. "I've gotten a lot of pitches to hit and they've been on the barrel. I have a lot of marks on my bat that have just been glancing shots. I've popped a lot of balls up that normally I'd hit a lot harder."

A two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, Wells hit .303 with 32 homers and 106 RBIs in 2006.

Also Tuesday, Toronto third baseman Troy Glaus had another MRI exam on the sore left heel that has troubled him for much of the season.

Glaus, who had a bone spur, left Monday's game in Detroit after experiencing pain while running the bases and might have to be shut down for the rest of the season, general manager J.P. Ricciardi conceded.

"We'll see how he feels," Ricciardi said. "We're still trying to win games here. From what I understand he probably just broke the rest of what's left there off, which I guess can be very painful."

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

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