Left-hander Jake Diekman will miss at least the first half of the 2017 season after a Jan. 25 operation to alleviate complicates with ulcerative colitis, Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said.
The Rangers were aware of Diekman’s health issues last week when they agreed to a $2.55 million contract, avoiding arbitration. Diekman, who was diagnosed with the disease at age 11 and has battled it throughout his career, had another bout in November and was informed in mid-December that surgery could be an option.
“His initial thought was to wait until the end of the year if not his career, but personal health first and foremost,” Daniels said.