Phillies Notes: Elbow surgery a success for Phillies' Polanco

Placido Polanco had successful surgery on his left elbow Friday, the Phillies said.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a statement that he is confident Polanco will be ready for spring training. The team is hopeful he can swing a bat within 10 weeks, in early January.

"It went very well and we are fully expecting Placido to be 100 percent by spring training," Amaro said.

The third baseman had bone spurs removed and part of the extensor tendon in his left arm shaved off to remove some tendinosis. The procedure was performed by Phillies team physician Michael Ciccotti.

The elbow and arm bothered Polanco for much of the 2010 season. He was hit by a Tim Hudson pitch during an April 21 game against the Atlanta Braves, which aggravated a chronic injury. But Polanco played through the pain with the help of four cortisone injections at various points during the season.

Polanco, 35, has two years remaining on a three-year, $18 million contract signed last off-season. In 2010, he played 132 games, his fewest since 2006, but still hit .298 with a .725 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), right about on par with his 2009 season with the Detroit Tigers.

- Matt Gelb