This won't come as much surprise, but Wily Mo Pena is officially out for the season after having surgery today to repair a torn left rotator cuff.

Orthopedist Tim Kremchek operated on Pena in Cincinnati, repairing what the team called a "significant partial tear of his rotator cuff, as well as a tear and fraying of his posterior labrum." Pena will be in a sling for three weeks and will need four to six months to recover. He's expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

What does this mean for WMP's future? Well, as has been stated here repeatedly, the Nationals have a $5 million club option on him for 2009. If that's not picked up (and obviously it won't be), then Pena can exercise a $2 million player option (which he obviously will). The Nats could decide to release him altogether next year and eat the $2 million, but I doubt that will happen. Since he was hurt this year, they might as well give it another go next year and see what he can do when healthy. I seriously doubt Pena will have a chance to play on an everyday basis heading into 2009, but he'll probably come off the bench and have a chance to contribute in some fashion.

That's the bad news for the day. The good news, of course, is that Ryan Zimmerman comes off the DL tonight and will start at third base against the Giants. The significance of this development cannot be overstated. The Nats were 22-29 before Zimmerman was shut down with his shoulder injury on May 26. They went 16-32 in his absence.

Is Zim's return going to suddenly turn this team into a contender? No way. But will he make Washington more competitive? Absolutely.

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