The Hot Stone League

Larry Stone gives his take on a wide array of baseball issues and weighs in about the Mariners too.

February 8, 2010 at 3:36 PM

Lee undergoes foot surgery

Update 4:15 p.m.: I just talked to Jack Zduriencik, who doesn't seem concerned at all. He said that he talked to Cliff Lee today, and all he has on his foot right now, three days after the surgery, is an ace bandage.

"It was a surface type of injury,'' Zduriencik said. "He could have elected not to have surgery. The only thing that would have happened, if that was the case, he could have gone through a series of cortisone shots through the course of the year. But quite frankly, he should be ready to go in about three weeks. He said he feels good.''

As for why the surgery was done now, so close to spring training, Zduriencik said that Lee told him it was something that really hadn't bothered him until last week.

"As minor as it was, it didn't make any sense to have any semblance of having it linger on,'' Zduriencik said. "In the middle of the season, missing three weeks is a heck of a lot different than missing three weeks now."

The Mariners just sent out a press release to announce that Cliff Lee underwent surgery on his left foot on Feb. 5 in Little Rock, Ark.

It doesn't sound like a major deal, but it will slow him down early in camp. Lee had a spur in his foot that recently broke loose from its attachment, and the surgery, conducted by Dr. Bryan Burke, removed the floating spur. According to the press release, the procedure alleviated irritation and discomfort in the joint and surrounding tissues.

Lee will not require a cast and over a period of two to three weeks will gradually return to all normal baseball activities. The first workout for pitchers and catchers is a week from Thursday in Peoria, Ariz. For seven to 10 days, Lee will be able to bear weight on the left foot and continue his upper-body exercise program.

"We decided Lee should have the surgery as soon as possible, rather than try to pitch with the discomfort during the year,'' Zduriencik said in the press release. "To get it out of the way and have it behind us is important.''

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Lee undergoes foot surgery

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