Lawrence injury 'more severe'

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VIERA, Fla. -- Washington Nationals right-hander Brian Lawrence appears done for the season after undergoing surgery yesterday to repair what the team called "extensive" tears of both the labrum and rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder.

Wiemi Douoguih, the Nationals' orthopedic physician, performed the surgery at Washington Medical Center yesterday morning and discovered the damage to Lawrence's shoulder was even worse than an initial MRI had shown. That image revealed the labrum tear, but it wasn't until Douoguih was able to operate that the rotator cuff tear was confirmed.

"It's more severe than we thought," general manager Jim Bowden said.

The club said Lawrence will return to Florida immediately to begin physical therapy. He won't begin throwing again for 12 weeks, and his full return is not expected for four to eight months.

That does leave a sliver of hope Lawrence might pitch for the Nationals this season, but team officials aren't counting on it.

"I think you have to plan that he will not be back this year and be pleasantly surprised if he is," Bowden said.

Projected to be Washington's No. 3 or 4 starter after being acquired in November from the San Diego Padres for Vinny Castilla, Lawrence never even made it through his first bullpen session of the spring. He cut that workout short after his shoulder felt stiff, and though he said he felt good when he threw again off a mound four days later, the pain returned soon after, and he was shut down for good.

With Lawrence, who is due to make $3.5 million this season, out of the picture, the Nationals now must find someone to fill his spot in the rotation. Bowden spent last week pursuing free agent Pedro Astacio but said yesterday that talks with the veteran right-hander were "at an impasse" and expressed doubt a deal could be completed.

Bowden instead has shifted his attention to trade talks. He wouldn't divulge any names he's discussed, but quality pitching figures to be available only for a hefty price.

Given that, manager Frank Robinson may have no choice but to go into the season with only two proven starters (Livan Hernandez and John Patterson) and to fill out the rotation with some combination of Tony Armas Jr., Ramon Ortiz, Jon Rauch and Ryan Drese. Robinson also mentioned left-hander Billy Traber -- signed this winter as a six-year, minor league free agent -- as a potential starter.