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Today the Indians announced that Josh Tomlin will miss a significant portion of the 2015 due to shoulder surgery:
RHP Josh Tomlin (chronic AC joint inflammation, R shoulder) will undergo arthroscopic debridement on Wedn, April 8 @ClevelandClinic (1/2)
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) April 3, 2015
Tomlin will miss 3-4 months after next week's surgery:
#Indians say RHP Josh Tomlin will undergo shoulder surgery next week, out 3-4 months.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) April 3, 2015
Tomlin was not going to make the club, but because he had an option could have been used as a spot starter or a replacement in case of injury or ineffectiveness. Now the Indians are down to 6 starters (the current starting rotation plus Danny Salazar) that you could classify as major-league depth. Yes, there's Shaun Marcum, but he hasn't started a game in the majors since 2013, so he'll need some time in Columbus. Charles Brewer and Cody Anderson are also on the 40-man roster, but I don't think the Indians would like to have to use either in the rotation this year.
Because of the injury, the Indians have rescinded the option of Tomlin to Columbus. Which means that should Tomlin remain on the DL the entire 2015 season (or go straight from the DL back to the majors), they would still have an option on Tomlin for the 2016 campaign.
Tomlin will join Nick Swisher, Gavin Floyd, and Zach Walters on the Disabled List to start the season. Tomlin will probably be moved to the 60-day DL should the Indians need another 40-man roster spot.