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Casey Janssen's season is over before it begins.

The Blue Jays relief pitcher has a torn labrum in his right shoulder and will be out for the entire 2008 season.

"Janssen is out for the year," Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi told reporters Wednesday morning. "He has a torn labarum in his right shoulder and we won't have him this year. Pretty straight forward."

Janssen had a stellar 2007 season, posting a 2.35 ERA in 72 innings pitched.
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This spring, the Jays were planning on trying Janssen out as a starting pitcher. He was scratched from a simulated game on Tuesday due to soreness in his shoulder.

Ricciardi said that Janssen will likely have surgery next week, and would be able to start throwing in four months, which would be too late to help the team in 2008.

"But we'll have him back healthy next year and just give him a long rehab process and he should be 100 per cent to go next year." Ricciardi said.

With Gustavo Chacin not ready to open the season in the starting rotation, Ricciardi said he might be in the market for another starter. Jesse Litsch looks to have a hold on the fifth starter's job for now.
This is a big blow for the Jays, Janssen was one of their best relief pitchers in 2007, and was going to compete to make the 5th spot in the rotation this year.

I'm pretty disappointed that this may give Jason Frasor another chance.