Marquis to have elbow surgery

Jason Marquis was the prized free agent pitching signing for the Washington Nationals.  He was signed as the veteran, the one that would bolster the starting staff.  Instead, what the Nationals got was a starter that has started 3 starts, went 0-3 and posted a horrendous ERA of 20.52 ERA before being placed on the 15 day disabled list last month with inflammation in his elbow caused by bone chips.

Now word comes down, the Nationals will lose Marquis until at least August.

“It’s disappointing, but it’s part of the game. It’s part of the grind that we go through,” he said. “Hopefully we caught it where there’s no further damage. … Clean up and be back to hopefully help down the stretch.”

Asked whether the Nationals could have saved time by going ahead with the operation weeks ago, Rizzo said: “It was an agreement between the team and the player. He felt he could pitch through it. It set us back about three weeks.”

The 31-year-old Marquis, who grew up in New York, was in the Washington clubhouse before the finale of a three-game series at Citi Field. He said he’s never had surgery on his arm before.

“If that’s what has to be done to get me right and be Jason Marquis again, then I guess that’s something I have to do,” he said. “I’m surely not the first to have surgery and I’m definitely not going to be the last.”

Fortunately for the Nationals, the young starters are getting the job done.  The Nationals have been blessed thus far this season with numerous quality starts, which, combined with an effective bullpen, has fueled the Nationals success that has taken major league baseball buy surprise.  The Nats are also expected to promote Stephen Strasburg in early June to the Nationals starting rotation.