Bronson Arroyo deals with possible career-ending torn rotator cuff

Washington Nationals right-hander Bronson Arroyo was diagnosed with what he termed a "significantly" torn rotator cuff, an injury that could end the career of the 39-year-old.

Arroyo underwent Tommy John elbow surgery and had his rotator cuff repaired during the summer of 2014 and was hoping to make a comeback. He has been experiencing pain this spring while trying to make the Washington starting rotation.

Arroyo said he will not undergo further surgery, telling media outlets he will either rehab the injury or retire.

"This has been my life's work, man," Arroyo said. "You kind of have your eyes on the prize since you were a five (or) six-year-old kid. This is what you do and you don't know anything else. So it's definitely something that's not going to be easy to walk away from if I have to."

Arroyo has a career mark of 145-131 with a 4.19 ERA. He has been a workhorse most of his career and topped 200 innings eight times between 2005 and 2013 and threw 199 innings in the other campaign.

Arroyo was an All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds in 2006 and he won a career-best 17 games in 2010.

Arroyo pitched three perfect innings in his second outing of the spring on March 10. But he was scratched from his ensuing start because of the shoulder pain and now faces the possible end of his career.

"If it is, it'll be disappointing because I would've loved to be around these guys," Arroyo said. "But we'll see if I'm going to have to shut it down or not."