"Free agent first baseman Derrek Lee(notes) has had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, an injury that appeared to limit his production for much of the 2010 season.

Lee, who turned 35 in September, is expected to recover well in advance of spring training.

Performed Friday at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles by hand specialist Dr. Steven Shin, the surgery repaired damage sustained by Lee on April 5, opening day for the Chicago Cubs.

Ninth in the National League MVP voting in 2009 when he batted .306 with 35 home runs and 111 RBIs, Lee's numbers fell to .260, 19 homers and 80 RBIs. In spite of the injury, he played in 148 games for the Cubs and Atlanta Braves and helped drive the Braves to their first postseason appearance in five years.

Doctors told him he would wear a cast to his mid-forearm for six weeks, then need four weeks of rehabilitation. The cast could come off sooner, speeding his recovery."