THE SIDELINES : Elster to Have Shoulder Surgery

Shortstop Kevin Elster will require arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder and will be lost to New York Mets for the rest of the season.

The labrum is the main stabilizer of the shoulder. The surgery was tentatively scheduled Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala., and will be performed by Dr. James Andrews.

The Mets anticipate Elster, 26, will be available to play in spring training.

Elster has had problems throwing since late May. His injury first was diagnosed as tendinitis. A magnetic resonance imaging scan taken in early June revealed no damage, and he continued to play with a weak throwing shoulder.

Later, the Mets would describe his problem as a muscle imbalance. After taking a break from July 23 to 27, he again tried to play. But the pain was still there and after playing his last game Aug. 3, he went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 7, retroactive to Aug. 4.