Bad news for Rhodes

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Arthur Rhodes wanted to make a triumphant return to the Mariners in the worst way. As it turns out, his career is being threatened.

An exam of his ailing left elbow has revealed ligament damage that likely will need “Tommy John” reconstructive surgery to repair. Rhodes says he will get another opinion and consider his options but, at age 37, there may be few.

Rhodes’ elbow gave him trouble at the end of last season and, after a winter of rest, the pain flared up again this year at spring training. He rested it and pitched in the final week of spring training, only to have the pain return last week.

This almost certainly ends Rhodes’ season and, if he needs surgery and the year-plus that it takes to return to full strength, could be the end of his career. If that’s the case, the Mariners got the best out of the hard-throwing left-hander, especially on the magnificent 2001 team when he pitched in 71 games with an earned-run average that glittered as much as the diamond studs in his ears — 1.72.