Baseball Notes: Lee's surgery not a big deal, Seattle GM says

Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said he does not believe that foot surgery will hamper Cliff Lee's preparation for the 2010 season.

The former Cy Young Award winner and Phillies World Series star is expected to team with Felix Hernandez to give the Mariners a potent one-two punch.

The procedure, performed Friday in Little Rock, Ark., by Bryan Burke, was to remove a floating spur in Lee's left foot that recently broke loose.

The Mariners said yesterday in a release the surgery will alleviate irritation in the foot and surrounding tissues. He will not need a cast.

Zduriencik said he talked to Lee on Monday, and all he had on the foot was an ace bandage.He is expected to gradually return to normal baseball activities over the next two to three weeks.

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

Noteworthy. Yorvit Torrealba and the San Diego Padres finalized a one-year contract that guarantees the catcher $1.25 million. . . . Lefthander Mark Hendrickson agreed to a one-year contract with Baltimore that guarantees him $1.4 million after pitching well out of the Orioles' bullpen last season. . . . Speedy outfielder Willy Taveras was released by Oakland just eight days after he was acquired from Cincinnati with infielder Adam Rosales.

Lefthander Scott Schoeneweis, a product of Lenape High in South Jersey, agreed to a minor-league contract with Milwaukee. . . . Arizona ace Brandon Webb threw off the mound for the first time since undergoing right-shoulder surgery.

Outfielder Jacque Jones agreed to a minor-league contract with Minnesota. . . . Righthander Jamey Wright agreed to a minor-league contract with Cleveland after leading Kansas City with 65 relief appearances. . . . Houston righthander Brandon Lyon had surgery to drain a small cyst in his pitching shoulder but is expected to be ready for spring training.