Royals reliever Greg Holland has ligament tear in right elbow

Kansas City Royals reliever Greg Holland has a right elbow ligament tear that will end his season and likely require surgery.

“It’s a significant tear,” Royals Manager Ned Yost said Thursday before a game against Seattle.

Holland will see Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles next week to determine the severity of the injury. Surgery is probable but depends on the second opinion.

An MRI exam on Aug. 31 detected the tear, but Holland wanted to try to pitch through it.

Holland, 29, leads the Royals with 32 saves in 37 opportunities, but has been erratic this season. His fastball velocity has dipped to the upper 80s and lower 90s mph. Yost said that Wade Davis would be his closer for the remainder of the season and postseason.

Etc.

The Boston Red Sox promoted Mike Hazen from assistant general manager to general manager, the first big move by Dave Dombrowski since he took over as president of baseball operations in August. ...

The Red Sox shut down Hanley Ramirez for the rest of the season because of right shoulder inflammation. He finished the year with a .249 batting average, 19 home runs and 53 runs batted in. ... Washington Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa’s season is probably finished because of a torn right hamstring.