Cox Goes Under Knife

Minor league reliever J. Brent Cox has undergone elbow surgery and will miss most of the 2007 season. The good news is that he did not need Tommy John surgery as originally reported by some outlets. While the ailment is not catastrophic, it is serious. This is a tough break for Cox. He had an excellent 2006 in AA and was poised to make an impact in New York at some point this season. Now the Yanks should not push Cox. The team has too much pitching depth, and Cox has too much of his career in front of him to risk anything. The aim should be getting him ready for 2008 with a cautious rehab this season. This is yet another all too common lesson that a team can never have too much pitching depth.