ARLINGTON, Texas -- A lost season for the Texas Rangers has turned even more disheartening: All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez is out for the year with a broken right thumb.

The reigning AL MVP was injured Monday night when his hand hit Mo Vaughn's bat while making a throw against the Anaheim Angels.

"That's what happens when the team isn't going good," Rodriguez said. "What can I do? But I have a strong mind and I'll be ready for spring training."

Doctor: Pudge should be ready for spring training next year

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Ivan Rodriguez underwent a 1-hour, 20-minute operation Tuesday afternoon to repair his right thumb fracture. Rodriguez was hurt in the first inning of Monday's 6-5 loss to Anaheim while throwing to second base on Kevin Stocker's steal attempt. Mo Vaughn had swung and missed and was trying to duck out of the way, but his bat stayed up and Rodriguez caught it with his follow-through. Dr. Bobby Wroten, who performed the surgery in Fort Worth, inserted three pins into the base of Rodriguez's thumb to hold three bone fragments in place. Wroten said Rodriguez, who will wear a cast, came out of the operation with no problems. The fracture is expected to heal in 6-to-10 weeks, then Rodriguez faces a rehabilitation period before he can resume baseball activities. Rangers medical director Dr. John Conway said Rodriguez will need as long as five months for the thumb to heal completely, which would have him ready to play in plenty of time for spring training in February. Conway said the position of the fracture -- at the base of the first metacarpal bone in the thumb -- is uncommon for athletes, but that should not hinder Rodriguez's comeback. "We don't anticipate this will have any effect on his career," Conway said. "We anticipate he will be ready for spring training with no problems." -- Associated Press

The two-time AL West champion Rangers are 11½ games behind division-leading Seattle. On June 2, center fielder Ruben Mateo -- a rookie of the year candidate -- broke his leg and was lost for the year.

Rodriguez, regarded by many as the best all-around catcher in the majors, began the day batting .347 with 27 home runs and 83 RBI.

He was hurt in the first inning as Vaughn struck out swinging while Kevin Stocker was trying to steal second. Stocker was called out by home plate umpire Gerry Davis on batter's interference.

Rodriguez said Vaughn did nothing wrong, and added the Angels first baseman left a message in the Rangers clubhouse expressing his sorrow.

"I don't think it was on purpose," Rodriguez said. "Mo is a very clean player."

Vaughn expressed sadness.

"It's just unfortunate because he's such a great player," Vaughn said. "Something will be missed from the game these last two months."

Rodriguez, 28, played earlier this month in his ninth straight All-Star game. He has won eight consecutive Gold Glove awards, an AL record.

Earlier this year, the Rangers said Rodriguez would spend time in the off-season learning a new position, possibly second base, in hopes of reducing the rigors of catching.

The Rangers purchased the contract of catcher B.J. Waszgis from Triple-A Oklahoma. Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.

	Ivan Rodriguez kneels in pain after fracturing his thumb on July 24.

"As soon as it happened, my thumb went numb. There was swelling and I knew it was broken and I'd be out for the season," he said.

This year he had thrown out 16 of 33 (48.5 percent) would-be basestealers. Last year, he caught 54.2 percent, the fifth straight season he led the AL in that category.

Rodriguez won the MVP last year when he hit .332 with an AL-record 35 home runs by a catcher. He had 113 RBI and scored 116 runs.

"I was having a strong season, so it's disappointing for it to end two months before it was supposed to," Rodriguez said. "But there's always next season. I'll just go out and put up better numbers next year."

Rangers general manager Doug Melvin said Rodriguez's season-ending injury, coupled with the loss of Mateo, seemed to sum up his team's season.

"This is a sad day," Melvin said. "We always take Pudge for granted that he's always going to be out there. But you have to realize it can happen to anybody. You wonder which player your team can least afford to lose. He falls into that category."

Melvin was unsure whether the loss of Rodriguez would mean his team would be more willing to trade impending free agents like David Segui and John Wetteland.

"The clock is still running on our players who are going to be free agents," Melvin said. "But that doesn't change our thinking. We're still going to try and win every game that we can. This does give a chance to some of our young players."