Mets’ Shaun Marcum To Have Season Ending Surgery

The New York Mets will have to dig deep to fill an opening in their starting rotation.

Starter Shaum Marcum is slated to have a season ending procedure to alleviate numbness and tingling in his pitching arm, according to Mets.com.

The diagnosis from Dr. Robert Thompson is thoracic outlet syndrome, said assistant general manager John Ricco, the site reports:

"It involves an artery that's blocking circulation. It's something that's impeding circulation, and they go in and do a procedure that frees up the blood flow."

Ricco said that "based on the diagnosis," Marcum will not be able to pitch again this season.

Marcum (1-10, 5.29 ERA) had complained of that tingling and numbness over his last two starts. He made 14 appearances for New York this season - which included a dozen starts.

It's believed that Carlos Torres will move from the bullpen to the starting rotation, at least until Jonathon Niese and his sore shoulder come off the disabled list.

Torres (0-1) has made ten appearances thus far in 2013, yielding a meager 0.51 ERA in 17.2 innings.