"Melvin Mora underwent right shoulder surgery about a month after the season, though Baltimore Orioles President Andy MacPhail said the veteran third baseman is expected to be healthy in time for spring training.

MacPhail said the surgery was elective and unrelated to a baseball injury, although Mora battled lingering shoulder problems all of last season.

"He was looking to get some relief . . . from an arthritic condition," MacPhail said.

Former Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer leaked word of the previously undisclosed procedure on Wednesday during a ceremony to unveil the team's new uniforms.

Mora and his agent, Lon Babby, did not return messages, and Manager Dave Trembley declined to comment.

Mora used a second-half surge to post his best offensive numbers since 2004. He hit .285 with 23 home runs and 104 RBI. But Mora battled shoulder pain starting in spring training, when he injured it during a slide. Later in the season, he took a hard-hit ball off his shoulder while taking infield practice. The injury later required a cortisone shot."