Angels' Upton to miss 8-12 weeks with toe injury
Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus said Friday that outfielder Justin Upton is expected to be out 8-to-12 weeks after further evaluation from a doctor, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
General manager Billy Eppler revealed that Upton will be in a walking boot for the next four weeks and said he doesn't anticipate adding outfield help from outside of the organization, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.
The Angels placed him on the injured list on Tuesday due to a sore big toe. At that time, Ausmus called the injury "turf toe" and there was no timetable for his return. Upton, 31, also missed most of spring training due to tendinitis in his right knee.
"Can we withstand it? We have to. We have no choice," Ausmus told Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times.
The veteran slugger hit 30 home runs with 85 RBIs in his first full season with the Angels in 2018 after signing a five-year, $108-million contract as a free agent. The four-time All-Star was traded to Los Angeles during the 2017 campaign from the Detroit Tigers.
The injury will open the door for Peter Bourjos to get significant playing time in left field. The club also claimed outfielder Brian Goodwin on Wednesday.