Indians’ Clevinger to have knee surgery

CLEVELAND >> The Indians are already dealing with adversity before taking the field for their first fullsquad workout.

Starter Mike Clevinger was undergoing surgery Friday to repair torn meniscus in his left knee after the right-hander hurt it while working out at the team’s training complex in Goodyear, Arizona.

“He was doing some drills a couple days ago,” manager Terry Francona said. “He felt something. We took him to the training room. Then we let him go home to see how he feels. I think our trainers were a little nervous at the outset that this has meniscus written all over it. He was pretty sore so they got him an MRI.”

The Indians won’t have a timetable for Clevinger’s return until after the operation, but it’s safe to assume he will miss at least several weeks.

If there’s a bright spot, it’s that the injury happened early in camp and not closer to the season’s start.

“It’s not doomsday,” Francona said. “One, we know he’s a quick healer. And two, he will be able to keep his arm in condition the entire time. I’d prefer it didn’t happen, but he’s going to be OK.”

Clevinger, 29, has become a vital part of the team’s rotation, winning 38 games over the past three seasons. He made 21 starts in 2019, but missed time early in the year with a strained back muscle. Clevinger was 13-4 with a 2.71 ERA last season.

Hader loses in arbitration

pitchers is broken, Milwaukee closer Josh Hader said after losing his case against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Hader will earn $4.1 million rather than his $6.4 million request, a decision that dropped players to 1-6 in hearings this year. Arbitrators Mark Burstein, Dan Brent and Frederic Horowitz made the decision, a day after hearing arguments.

“We’re in a unique position, the way we’re used as relievers nowadays,” Hader said. “I think the system’s just outdated on how we’re used. We’re mostly being used for lineups, not innings.”

Hader moved into the closer’s role last year and converted 37 of 44 save opportunities while going 3-5 with a 2.62 ERA. He earned his second straight All-Star selection.

Haniger undergoes second surgery

PEORIA, ARIZ. >> Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger is not likely to take the field anytime soon following his second surgery in less than a month.

The Mariners said the 2018 All-Star had a lower back procedure that followed core surgery in January.

Both are related to a ruptured testicle sustained in a game last June, an injury believed to have occurred when he fouled off a pitch and the ball hit him in the groin area. In working his way back, Haniger felt back pain and never played again last season.

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said Haniger, who hit .285 with 26 home runs and 93 runs batted in in 2018 before his 2019 season was cut short, had an operation called a microdiscectomy, or small repair of vertebrae in his back.