Orioles' Machado to undergo season-ending knee surgery Wednesday

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has confirmed that he will undergo season-ending knee surgery on Wednesday. 

Per MLB.com's Britt Ghiroli, the procedure will repair a partial tear of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) in Machado's left knee, and will require a 4-6 month rehab, potentially delaying his readiness for next spring and possibly even the beginning of the regular season. 

That shouldn't come as a surprise, given that this is essentially the same injury he suffered around the same time last year, and that he began this season on the diasbled list.  

Machado had hoped a bit of rest would be enough to get him back on the field, but ultimately acknowledged that "it wasn't getting any better," and the only option was "going in there and fixing it." 

"I sent my MRI results to a couple of doctors and knee specialists and we decided that in the long run and for my future as a baseball player, this surgery would be the best plan," Machado said, via a team release. "I will immediately begin the rehabilitation process in hopes of being ready for the start of Spring Training."

The Orioles currently have an eight-game cushion in the AL East, the largest for any division leader in baseball. At this point, they're a near-lock to make the postseason. But losing Machado, not only a capable batsman but undeniably their defensive anchor, could prove a crushing blow to any World Series hopes they might have had.