Youkilis
"They took another MRI right in the [thumb] area that left no doubt surgery was necessary," general manager Theo Epstein told ESPNBoston.com. "Youk is a big part of our heart and soul. He's one of our best players and one of the best players in the league. It's a big impact but it creates an opportunity for other guys to step up and help offensively.
"If there is a silver lining, it is that it's pretty routine surgery. He'll be 100 percent and have a normal offseason."
When asked if the procedure would end any chance of Youkilis playing in the postseason as well, Francona said the team would "have to drag this out to around Thanksgiving" for his star first baseman to be available.
The thumb will be immobilized for six weeks and then be reevaluated, Francona said.
Youkilis suffered the injury on Monday night against the Cleveland Indians and was placed on the disabled list on Tuesday. He visited a hand specialist in Cleveland on Thursday, who confirmed the diagnosis and treatment.
"It really stinks," Youkilis said Tuesday after the Red Sox beat the Indians 3-1. "[This injury] is very rare. Zero athletes have had it, at least as far as the doctors have said. It was a freak accident. I don't know how it happened or the reason behind it. It just happened."
When informed of the news on Thursday afternoon, Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz said: "I knew this was coming. That's a major hit. It just got worse around here. Everyone knows Youk is a guy who plays the game hard. When guys like Youkilis and [Dustin] Pedroia come out of games you know there is a problem.
"He is one of the best players we have, no question about it. But you gotta do what you gotta do. You gotta take care of that [thumb]. You have to come back healthy next year," he said.
"We have to fight it. It's not over yet," he added. "You can't hang it up. You have to try to compete."
The Youkilis news is the latest -- and biggest -- blow for a Red Sox team that is struggling for its playoff life and has been ravaged by injuries this season. Besides Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Cameron and Jason Varitek are currently on the disabled list and Victor Martinez, Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Manny Delcarmen have all spent time on the shelf.
"It seems to be happening all in one year," Epstein said. "Hopefully this will give us a year or two of good health. All teams deal with injuries but we're getting it in spades this year."
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