Braves' Brian McCann might need major shoulder surgery

Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann may require shoulder surgery that would sideline him four to five months, leaving Spring Training and Opening Day in question, reports David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

"We already basically know what is going to happen, what needs to happen," McCann said. "I think it’s going to be [a matter of] how long I’m out for. Could be a couple of months, it could be a little more than that. Could be four or five months.

"We’ll see what happens. We’ll find out. I can’t really say right now, but I’m pretty sure surgery."

The six-time All-Star was diagnosed mid-season with a frayed labrum as well as a cyst in his right shoulder, and missed much of the last two months of the season. A dye-cast MRI will be undergone sometime this week to confirm the type of treatment McCann needs to have a full recovery. While surgery is not the only option, it seems the likely course of action at this point.

The 2012 season was one of career worsts for McCann, as the catcher hit just .230/.300/.399 with twenty home runs in one hundred twenty-one games. McCann has a $12 million club option for 2013 that the Braves are fully expected to exercise whether he is healthy or not.