Yankees' Nady has partially torn ligament, will avoid surgery

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

Xavier Nady hit .268 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs in 59 games with the Yankees last season. Cliff Welch/Icon SMI

Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady has been diagnosed with a partially torn ligament in his right elbow, but he will avoid surgery, SI.com has learned.

The Yankees feared originally Nady could be lost for the season with a completely torn ligament, but a review of multiple X-rays revealed that the ligament is only partially torn. He will likely need to rehab the injury for a period of weeks, perhaps a month.

Club sources are saying he is feeling much better.

Nady had ligament replacement surgery (also known as Tommy John surgery) in 2001, so there was extra cause for concern in his case. There's a low success rate for players who have a second Tommy John surgery, although in most cases they are pitchers. He re-injured the elbow throwing the ball into the infield.

Nady could return in a DH role. The Yankees are very concerned about DH Hideki Matsui, whose knees continue to trouble him after offseason surgery.