Injury Could End Season for Garvey

Steve Garvey of the Padres likely will be placed on the disabled list today because of a painful left shoulder injury that isn’t healing.

Triple-A outfielder Shane Mack will take his place on the roster, Padre General Manager Jack McKeon said Sunday night.

Since spring training, Garvey, 38, has had pain in the shoulder, and team doctors originally diagnosed it as bursitis. But treatment hasn’t solved the problem, and Garvey may undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season, a source close to Garvey said.

McKeon said Garvey has an appointment with a team doctor today.

Asked if Garvey had a season-ending injury, McKeon said: “That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Let’s not bury the guy. Now if the guy went for an operation. . . . Well, put it this way--it’s not getting any better.”

Garvey, who was unavailable for comment Sunday night and who is no longer starting at first base, has had only two at-bats in his last 12 games. He’s batting .211 with one home run and nine RBIs.

According to McKeon, Garvey aggravated his shoulder injury when he played in last Thursday’s exhibition game in Las Vegas.

“It’s just not getting any better,” McKeon said. “Mack might come up, because we don’t want to be stuck without a guy (to play).”