Halladay to have shoulder surgery, eyes ‘13 return

SAN FRANCISCO — For Roy Halladay, arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome throwing shoulder became the best-case scenario when he had prepared himself for the worst — a career-ending injury that would force his retirement when he’s far from ready.

Halladay will undergo a procedure in his right shoulder to repair a partially torn rotator cuff and remove a bone spur. He also has some fraying of the labrum.

“I think we did all the right things,” Halladay said. “Now I feel I have something to grasp onto, something to move forward with. I don’t feel as lost as before. I feel like there’s some answers.”

He is relieved he won’t need reconstructive surgery at this stage. On the 15-day disabled list since Monday because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder, the two-time Cy Young Award winner met with Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Halladay hadn’t decided on which doctor will but said he expects to have surgery next week to give himself the best chance of returning this season.

“They’re going to go in and clean up the bone spur, clean up the rotator cuff and the labrum, try and keep that as unevasive as possible,” Halladay said in the dugout Wednesday before the Phillies played the San Francisco Giants.

“From what I understand, if they go in and see during surgery what they saw on the exams, I have a chance to come back and pitch this year — I have a good chance to come back and pitch this year.”

The 35-year-old right-hander has experienced little pain, but his location and velocity have been the pitcher’s biggest concern. He is 2-4 with an 8.65 ERA in seven starts this season after missing nearly two months last year because of a strained back muscle.