Dr. Marc Philippon, who will perform the initial procedure in Colorado, said he's confident Rodriguez will be able to do that once he recovers.

"Well, it's better than him missing the whole year," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It could have been a lot worse."

The decision Sunday came after Rodriguez and the Yankees spent the week mulling treatment options for his torn labrum, and it was another jolt to the three-time MVP during a tumultuous month in which he admitted using steroids from 2001-03 with Texas.

The arthroscopic procedure that was chosen gives Rodriguez a chance to return early this season -- general manager Brian Cashman said he expects A-Rod back "sometime in May." But it also means he will need another, more extensive operation in the fall.

Brewers: Milwaukee released reliever Eric Gagne so he can rehab his sore shoulder in Tempe, Ariz., at a private facility. Gagne was in the Brewers camp as a nonroster invitee on a minor league contract. An MRI detected damage to the rotator cuff and labrum.

MICHIGAN: The Mets beat the University of Michigan Baseball team 18-7 on Sunday in an exhibition game in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Two Whitehall natives stood out for the Wolverines. Nick Urban homered in the fifth inning and Jake McLouth, a redshirt sophomore, had a two-run single. McLouth, who played at Grand Rapids Community College, is the younger brother of Pirates outfielder Nate McLouth.

Yankees: A.J. Burnett threw two scoreless innings in his spring debut to help the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 12-3. Yankees manager Joe Girardi had limited Burnett to bullpen sessions and simulated games.