Bucs’ Stewart contemplating serious knee surgery

PHILADELPHIA — Holding out hope for a “miracle cure,” Pirates catcher Chris Stewart is bracing for the possibility that his ailing left knee will require serious surgery.

Stewart, unable to play through the left knee pain that already cost him so much of this year, was placed on the 60-day disabled list Tuesday, ending his season. He will be seen Monday by Dr. James Andrews.

Earlier this season, Stewart said going under the knife could threaten his career. He’s dealing with an unspecified injury, which head athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk has referred to as “wear and tear.” The condition forced him to the disabled list on July 2, and he opted for rest and rehab, hoping to avoid an operation that may prove to be inevitable.

“Everything is on the table at this point. We don’t know,” Stewart said. “The way I’ve been playing, I’m kind of leaning toward [surgery, which] might be the only way to go to continue my career. We’ve tried to do pretty much everything else to keep me on the field without the surgery.

“I just think the continual play over time, continuing to play on …

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