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Second opinion on Wilson 'like a Hail Mary'

Angels hurler leaning toward season-ending elbow surgery

ANAHEIM -- A final decision on C.J. Wilson's next step probably won't be made until at least Aug. 11, when the Angels' starter meets face-to-face with Dr. Neal ElAttrache -- who is currently on vacation -- for a second opinion.

Wilson is still leaning strongly toward season-ending surgery to remove what he described as eight bone spurs in his left elbow. But he said the Angels have approached him about the possibility of taking a few weeks off, delaying the surgery -- one Wilson has had two other times in his career -- until the offseason and possibly helping the Angels out of the bullpen in September.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that is just one of "a bunch of options on the board," and that the decision isn't necessarily up to the coaches.

"This is going to be driven by the medical staff," Scioscia said. "Whatever decision the medical staff makes, with the doctors, with C.J., is really the direction that this will go. It has nothing to do with what our preference is. It's about, and always will be about, the health of the player."

The Angels placed Wilson on the 15-day disabled list Friday afternoon and described his MRI results on Saturday morning as "left elbow impingement, secondary to arthritis," a generic way of diagnosing the bone spurs Wilson doesn't believe he can continue to pitch through.

Wilson, who had fluid drained from his elbow four separate times this year, said Saturday that "there's just no more elbow left to expire" and that "there's nothing more I can really do" besides have the surgery.

The possibility of Wilson pitching again this season remains a long shot.

"In the meantime, I'm working out and staying in shape, just in case they come up with some other magical course of action," Wilson said Monday. "But it seems more like a Hail Mary at this point. I want to pitch -- that's why I've pitched this whole time."

Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez and listen to his podcast.
Read More: Los Angeles Angels, C.J. Wilson