Masahiro Tanaka undergoes elbow surgery to remove bone spur

NEW YORK --Yankeespitcher Masahiro Tanaka has undergone arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.

The team said Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek operated on Tanaka on Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery and that typical recovery time includes six weeks of exercise and strengthening, followed by a throwing program.

"It is a routine surgery," Yankees GM Brian Cashman said via phone Tuesday night.

Tanaka never complained about the spur hurting him during the season, but he and his agent, Casey Close, discussed the pain after the season. The Yankees, Tanaka and Close, after further evaluation, decided to have the procedure, according to Cashman.

The Yankees, in their news release, added that the injury dates from when Tanaka pitched in Japan. He signed with New York before the 2014 season.

Tanaka was diagnosed with a partially torn elbow ligament in 2014 and decided against surgery. Cashman said the spur and the ligament are unrelated.

"It is as it has been in the past, if not improved," Cashman said of the elbow ligament.

Tanaka was 12-7 with a 3.51 ERA in 24 starts this year and lost to Houston in the American League wild-card game.

Tanaka was on the disabled list from April 23 to June 3 with right wrist tendinitis and a forearm strain, then missed a September start because of a strained right hamstring.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.