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Qualls to have season-ending surgery

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By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

08/31/09 11:30 PM ET

LOS ANGELES -- The news on closer Chad Qualls was not good, but it could have been worse.

Qualls, who dislocated his left knee on his final pitch of Sunday's game against the Astros, was diagnosed with a torn patella femoral tendon and will require surgery. The right-hander was placed on the 60-day disabled list on Monday.

"It's unfortunate to lose him for the last month of the year, but the good news is anytime you have knee problems, it could have been an MCL or more substantive injuries," D-backs manager A.J. Hinch said, referring to the medial collateral ligament.

Team physician Michael Lee will perform the surgery in the coming days once the swelling subsides.

The rehab time, according to Hinch, is three to four months, which means he should be ready to go by the start of Spring Training.

"He's expected to make a full recovery," Hinch said.

With Qualls out of action, it appears Juan Gutierrez will get the bulk of the save opportunities initially, but that is not set in stone.

"We won't have a definite closer that will be relied upon every single night," Hinch said. "It will depend on how the game goes. Initially Guti will probably see a few save opportunities, but I won't name him the closer, nor will I hesitate using him in the seventh if I have to, or the eighth, depending on where we are in the game."

Hinch named Esmerling Vasquez, Clay Zavada, Daniel Schlereth and Blaine Boyer as those who could see late-inning action.

"We told all of our relievers to essentially be ready to pitch the sixth through the ninth as the game unfolds," Hinch said. "We'll be able to test out a few of the guys and see them under the stress of getting the last three outs of the game. They all have the stuff to get the last three outs of the game depending on where the lineup is."

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.