Seattle Mariners' all-time saves leader Kazuhiro Sasaki will need surgery to remove "loose bodies" from his right elbow, club officials said Friday.
The bodies were discovered early in September during an examination and can be removed by a fairly simple operation. A date for the surgery has not been set.
According to the Mariners' Web site, Sasaki wants to consult with Dr. Katsuhisa Yamada in Yokohama before "deciding what is best." Yamada operated on Sasaki's elbow three years ago.
Sasaki converted 37 of 45 save opportunities this season, but has also been saddled with eight blown saves.