Jays' Rolen to rest more due to shoulder injury

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Scott Rolen will be taking more days off this season in an attempt to correct some problems with his left shoulder.

Rolen, 33, described the problem as a "mechanical issue" that keeps the shoulder from "functioning properly," but doesn't expect surgery will be required. He has had three previous surgeries on his left shoulder.

"I've been having some shoulder trouble, some problems with it," he said. "Not strength, not flexibility, not surgery, nothing like that. Mechanically, it's not functioning right. The therapist looked at it, the doctor looked at it. I talked to Cito [Gaston, the manager] and J.P. [Ricciardi, the GM] and we're going to try to get some extra days off.

"I'll keep playing, keep going out there and doing what I can do, back off in the cage a little bit, [start an] extensive rehab-type program trying to get it functioning properly. Try to keep going and see where we are."

Rolen, who still has two years and $22 million US remaining on his current contract, was out of Toronto's lineup for its series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday afternoon.

The seven-time Gold Glove-winner has come as advertised defensively, providing the team with stellar defence. But Rolen has struggled at the plate this season with a .254 average, 21 doubles, six home runs and 31 RBIs.

Rolen is currently in an 0-for-17 slump and is batting just .163 in 22 games in July.

"The trend has been too familiar the last few years," said Rolen. "I'm going in the wrong direction offensively. At the plate there's been little to no life. There's a bit of a pulse, if you will, but not much.

"It's not the best news I wanted to hear, but not the end of the world by any means."

Gaston believes that Rolen's offensive woes are due to a late start with his swing.

"It's not like he's swinging and missing everything," said Gaston. "He's fouling the ball off but he's fouling it off late. He knows he's late and we're working on that."

The Jays manager said that Rolen will return to the team's lineup on Friday, when it starts a three-game set in Texas against the Rangers.