Padres starter Clayton Richard will undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Richard had apparently been battling knee issues since April and chose to pitch through it.
Richard, 34, struggled to a 5.33 ERA with a 108/60 K/BB ratio in 158 2/3 innings this season. He led all pitchers with 94 earned runs allowed and all NL pitchers with 159 hits allowed. The lefty is under contract for one more year at $3 million.
Having Richard undergo surgery now, as opposed to after the season, gives him an extra month or so of recovery time with the hope that he will be good to go for spring training next February.