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          Josh Beckett has surgery on neck

          • Mark Saxon, ESPN Staff WriterJul 11, 2013, 02:34 AM
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              Mark Saxon covers the St. Louis Cardinals for ESPN.com. He served as the Dodgers team reporter for ESPNLosAngeles.com. through the 2015 season. He spent six years at the Orange County Register, and began his career at the Oakland Tribune, where he started an 11-year journey covering Major League Baseball. He has also covered colleges, including USC football and UCLA basketball.
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          Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett underwent surgery to relieve pressure on a nerve in his neck on Wednesday.

          Beckett, 33, was 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight starts and hasn't pitched since May 13. The Dodgers are hopeful he can pitch next season, when he'll be in the final year of a contract that will pay him $15.75 million.

          The three-time All-Star joined the Dodgers last August in a blockbuster nine-player trade with the Red Sox along with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, left fielder Carl Crawford and utilityman Nick Punto.

          In the procedure performed in Dallas on Wednesday, Dr. Greg Pearl removed a rib to help treat a condition known as thoracic outlet syndrome. Pearl performed a similar procedure on St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter last winter.

          The Dodgers said Beckett will start his rehabilitation in five days and is expected to be ready to pitch by next spring.