FORT MYERS, FLA. — The Twins were informed by the agent for Joel Zumaya that the righthander decided to have Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery and attempt a comeback.
The surgery will take place at the end of March and be performed by noted specialist Dr. James Andrews. Agent Don Mitchell spoke with Twins assistant GM Rob Antony on Saturday night to inform him of the decision.
Zumaya tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow while throwing batting practice Feb. 25. It will be the sixth surgery for Zumaya, who hasn't pitched in the majors since June 2010.
The Twins signed him to an $850,000 contract full of incentives, but because he failed to make the Opening Day roster, he will be paid only $400,000.
Valentine on NishiokaRed Sox manager Bobby Valentine, who managed Tsuyoshi Nishioka in Japan, talked about how he warned the infielder about takeout slides at second base.
"He played second base and broke his leg," Valentine said before Sunday's 8-3 victory over a Twins split squad. "I came to Fort Myers last year to have dinner with him to tell him they're going to try to break his legs and tried to show him how to get out of the way because he didn't do that in Japan."
Nishioka suffered a broken leg the first week of last season when slid into by the Yankees' Nick Swisher.
"When a guy comes inside and rolls, [Nishioka] had to be out of the way," Valentine said. "He gave me the old, 'Ya,ya,ya, work harder, work harder. I understand, I understand.' He broke his leg."
