The Phillies slide just got a bit steeper.
Raul Ibanez will be heading to the 15 day disabled list with a left groin strain, according to David Murphy of the Daily News.
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Phillies medical staff made the decision to put Ibanez on the DL after watching him struggle during last night's game against the Blue Jays.
Amaro said that the groin started to hurt Ibanez in April and that it had reached a point where the team feared that he would do serious damage to it if he continued to play.
John Mayberry will be called up from AAA, according to Murphy’s Twitter. Mayberry will bat seventh and play in right field while Jayson Werth will bump over to left.
An MRI is planned for later today.
Amaro said he didn't know how long Ibanez would be sidelined.
“We'll find out as he goes through his rehab and does the things he needs to do to get it calmed down. We'll monitor him. We'll monitor him every day and see how he feels and hopefully he'll properly and be ready in 15 days. That's the plan, that'd be great, but I don't know if that's going to happen,” Amaro said.
With the way the bullpen has struggled recently and with Ibanez down for at least two weeks, a trade for pitching could be imminent, Murphy adds
