Indians' Brantley out 4-5 months after ankle surgery
Michael Brantley will spend a second straight winter rehabbing an injury.
The Cleveland Indians announced Thursday that their oft-injured All-Star outfielder underwent right ankle surgery Wednesday in North Carolina. As a result, Brantley will be unable to participate in any baseball activities for at least four-to-five months, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
The surgery and rehab time could complicate an already difficult decision that's looming for Cleveland about whether to pick up Brantley's $12-million option for 2018. That team can decline the option for a $1-million buyout.
Shortly after the surgery was announced, Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said they've yet to decide on Brantley's future with the club, reports Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com.
Brantley's ankle issues put a damper on what was a stellar comeback season in 2017. After missing all but 11 games in 2016 due to recurring shoulder issues that also left the Indians unsure about his status at the start of this season, the 30-year-old reclaimed his place in the Indians' outfield and earned his second All-Star berth by slashing .299/.357/.444 with nine homers and 20 doubles over 90 games.
But that success came to a halt when he hurt his ankle in early August, an injury that nearly cost Brantley his season. Though he missed all of the Indians' 22-game winning streak, Brantley returned in the second-last game of the season and appeared in three playoff games as a designated hitter. He went just 1-for-11 with four strikeouts in the Indians' ALDS loss to New York.
Brantley, who won a Silver Slugger and finished third in AL MVP voting three years ago, has spent his entire nine-year career in Cleveland.