ESPN's Karl Ravech hears that if Andrew Bailey needs surgery on his right thumb, he will likely be sidelined for three months.

Surgery isn't confirmed yet and we wouldn't learn an official timeline until after the procedure is completed. Still, it's obvious the Red Sox would be without their closer for an extended period of time. Mark Melancon and Alfredo Aceves are the most likely candidates to replace him and are worth speculative adds in most fantasy leagues.

According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, Andrew Bailey was told Monday that he will need thumb surgery.

Abraham previously reported that the news "was not good," but now we know that surgery was recommended. If Dr. Thomas Graham agrees with the diagnosis, the surgery could happen as soon as Tuesday. However, we likely won't know a timetable for his return until the procedure is complete. Mark Melancon and Alfredo Aceves are worth adding where available.

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports that Andrew Bailey could need surgery on his ailing right thumb.

Bailey had his thumb examined in Boston on Monday and Abraham hears that the news "was not good." He is scheduled to get a second opinion on Tuesday in Cleveland from Dr. Thomas Graham, a hand specialist and surgeon. It's not clear how long he would miss if surgery is needed, but both Mark Melancon and Alfredo Aceves are worth speculative adds at the moment.

Andrew Bailey (thumb) is headed to Boston for examination.

Bailey hasn't appeared in a Grapefruit League game in over a week. We think his status for Opening Day is in question, but disclosure of Bailey's medical results will be the final referendum on that subject. Bailey's owners should immediately sign Mark Melancon if he's still available in your league.

Andrew Bailey is currently nursing a thumb injury.

Details of the injury aren't available at this time, but Bailey hasn't appeared in a Grapefruit League game in over a week, so we would have to think his status for Opening Day is in question. We'll update his status when more is known, but Bailey's fantasy owners should head to the waiver wire to grab Mark Melancon.

Andrew Bailey gave up two runs in the seventh to take a blown save and a loss Wednesday against the Pirates.

Bailey had pitched a couple of hitless innings since giving up a run in his spring debut. A couple of shaky outings now isn't really anything to be too worried about, but now that he's in Boston, he can expect every failure to be magnified, even when it's in March.

Andrew Bailey allowed a run and three hits against the Marlins in his spring debut Monday.

Bailey is returning from a strained lat muscle. As long as he avoids any setbacks, he should be Boston's closer on Opening Day.

Andrew Bailey (lat) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Monday.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Wednesday that Bailey was ready to face hitters, but he'll start off with a session of live batting practice on Friday. The 27-year-old right-hander was slowed with a minor lat strain early in camp, but he shouldn't need many innings to get ready for Opening Day.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Wednesday that Andrew Bailey (lat) is ready to face hitters.

Bailey has made steady progress since suffering a minor lat strain early in camp. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday without incident and it's possible his next step might be a live game. "Bailey is ready," said Valentine. "He threw the bullpen. The next time might be to a hitter, but it might be batting practice. We're going to see how he feels. He might want to jump right into a game. He's pain-free and feels like he's throwing the ball fine." The 27-year-old right-hander is a bit of a health risk given his history, but he should be a valuable fantasy closer with Boston.

Andrew Bailey (lat) said he had a "real good" bullpen session Saturday.

The closer was originally scheduled for a bullpen session Sunday, but evidently it was moved up a day. The Red Sox expect Bailey to be ready to appear in a Grapefruit League game sometime this week. He should be an elite fantasy closer this season in Boston as long as he can stay healthy.

Andrew Bailey (lat) is expected to be ready to appear in a Grapefruit League game sometime next week.

Bailey will play catch Friday, long-toss Saturday and throw a bullpen session Sunday. He already had a bullpen session Thursday and didn't have any issues, so it appears the minor lat pull is pretty much behind him. The 27-year-old is in line to close games for the Red Sox this season.

Andrew Bailey (lat) threw a bullpen session Thursday.

Bailey had been limited to flat-ground work since suffering a minor lat pull last weekend. The 27-year-old right-hander should have no problem playing catch-up this month and readying himself for the start of the 2012 regular season. He's a superb fantasy option at closer this year.

Andrew Bailey (lat) played long toss from 120 feet on Monday afternoon in Red Sox camp.

Bailey suffered a minor lat pull over the weekend while performing vertical leap drills. He's expected to get back atop a mound later this week and should be close to 100 percent when Grapefruit League play gets underway.

Andrew Bailey has been limited the last few days after suffering a minor lat pull while going through vertical leap drills.

Bailey is expected to be able to resume full workouts on Monday, so it sounds like it's no big deal. Acquired via trade this offseason from the A's, Bailey will handle the ninth inning for the Red Sox this season. He's posted a 2.07 ERA over his first three major-league seasons.

The Red Sox and RHP Andrew Bailey avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million contract.

Bailey requested $4.7 million and was offered $3.35 million when arbitration figures were exchanged last week. It didn't take long for the two sides to agree somewhere in between. Bailey, acquired this offseason from the A's, will serve as Boston's closer in 2012.

Andrew Bailey requested $4.7 million and was offered $3.35 million from the Red Sox when arbitration figures were exchanged Tuesday.

Bailey, who was acquired from the Athletics in late-December, is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter after posting a 2.07 ERA over his first three major-league seasons. Look for the two sides to settle somewhere around $4 million.

Red Sox acquired RHP Andrew Bailey and OF Ryan Sweeney from the Athletics for RHP Raul Alcantara, 3B Miles Head and OF Josh Reddick.

A nice debut trade for new Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington. Alcantara, Head and Reddick all have promise, but the likelihood of any one of them becoming a serious major league contributor is slim. Bailey has a 2.07 career ERA through three big league seasons and is under team control through 2014. He should be a reliable closer in Boston and might even be an upgrade over Jonathan Papelbon if health is on his side.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com writes that Athletics' closer Andrew Bailey will likely be traded to the Red Sox or Rangers.

Olney notes that both clubs have interest and the proper chips needed to complete a deal. The Red Sox acquired Mark Melancon from the Astros earlier this month while the Rangers signed Joe Nathan in November, but both clubs continue to look for ways to improve the back-end of their respective bullpens. Bailey, 27, is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter and under team control through 2014.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Red Sox are "still on" Andrew Bailey.

Rosenthal also adds that the team's pursuit of both Bailey and Gio Gonzalez was "very much part of conversation for majority of the time" before they focused solely on Gio for a while after it became apparent that they were in a bidding war with the Nationals. The Red Sox would plug Bailey into the ninth inning while shifting Mark Melancon to a setup role.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Rangers are still interested in Athletics' closer Andrew Bailey.

The Rangers already signed Joe Nathan this offseason, but they are still looking to fortify the back-end of their bullpen. Bailey, 27, is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter and under team control through 2014. The Red Sox are also still in talks with the Athletics, despite acquiring closer-candidate Mark Melancon from the Astros last week.