Phillies reliever David Robertson is out for the season and headed for elbow surgery

Phillies reliever David Robertson revealed Wednesday afternoon that his season is over and he is likely headed for surgery after spending 3½ months trying to recover from a strained flexor tendon in his right elbow.

“I’ve been reexamined and reimaged, and at this point it has worsened, and I kind of have a lot of concern about it,” Robertson said. “I think the only way to have my elbow fixed to be able to get back on this playing field is to surgically have it repaired.”

Robertson, who signed a two-year deal worth $23 million before this season, said that in addition to his flexor tendon, there is also concern about his ulnar collateral ligament.

“It has been a tough few days,” Robertson said. “Personally, I’m pretty frustrated with myself. I’m very disappointed, because I really wanted to step in for this team and help make a difference, but it hasn’t worked out that way. It is definitely going to take some surgery to replace the problems in my elbow.”

Robertson said he will get a second opinion before having surgery, but he has not made that appointment. He believes his flexor tendon needs repair.

“I tried my best to come back,” said Robertson, who has been on the injured list since an April 14 appearance in Miami. “I took the six-week period off. No throwing. I took four weeks to build back up to get to where I was at, and I just kind of plateaued, and I wasn’t able to get over it.

"I was having trouble throwing. I’d throw 15 pitches at full speed, and it would take me four or five days to recover to be able to do it again.”

Robertson, who will be 35 next season, was never on the injured list with an arm ailment before this season, and he averaged 65 appearances a year in the last nine years. But this season, he appeared in just seven games for the Phillies and had a 5.40 ERA before being shut down.

If he needs major surgery to repair both his flexor tendon and UCL, he might miss much of next season, too.

“Obviously, I’ve had those thoughts,” he said about the possibility of a career-threatening injury. “It’s tough for me to deal with that, especially with where I’m at right now. I like to think of the positives, that I can get everything repaired as quick as possible and I can rehab as quick as possible. I try to stay pretty fit, and I want to believe I can be part of this organization and pitch next year.”