Cain needs surgery, may be done

NEW YORK - San Francisco Giants right-hander Matt Cain needs surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow, an operation that likely will end his season.

The three-time All-Star sure hopes not. Giants manager Bruce Bochy is fairly certain his one-time ace is done for the year.

“If you’re putting odds on it, the odds are not going to be that he will pitch,” Bochy said Friday.

Cain played catch on flat ground, from 60 feet, before the Giants played the New York Mets and is waiting to see how his arm responds before making a decision on when he will have surgery.

Bochy, though, said the team allowed him to throw just to “check off that box.”

Cain has not pitched since July 9 and is 2-7 with a 4.18 ERA. He was checked by Dr. James Andrews, Giants orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki and Mets orthopedist Dr. David Altchek.

All three doctors were in agreement: the chips have to come out.

“I’ve had them for 10 years,” Cain said. “They’ve always been there. Now they’re mad and letting me know about it.”

Bochy says Cain will need about three months’ recovery time, so he should be ready for spring training regardless of when he has the operation.

The Giants acquired Jake Peavy in a deal with Boston last week.

“Fortunate that Jake Peavy was available,” Bochy said. “He helps soften that.”

NOTES

The Giants designated 2B Dan Uggla and OF Tyler Colvin for assignment. They filled the spots by calling up Double-A INF Matt Duffy and OF Jarrett Parker. Uggla was signed by San Francisco on July 21 after being cut by Atlanta and called up four days later. In four games, Uggla was 0 for 11 with six strikeouts, and he made three errors. Colvin batted .223 in 57 games for the Giants this year.

Bochy said 1B Brandon Belt (concussion) ran and took grounders. Bochy wasn’t sure if Belt needed a rehab game, but he could play this weekend.

CF Angel Pagan (back inflammation) is scheduled to play seven innings in Arizona on Friday and could move to Triple-A Fresno today. Bochy said Pagan could return Tuesday in Milwaukee.