Moyer has elbow surgery, plans comeback at 49

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jamie Moyer has had Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow and plans to attempt a comeback in 2012 at age 49.

The left-hander had surgery Wednesday in New York to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.

Moyer is 267-204 with a 4.24 ERA during a 23-year major league career. He was pitching in the Dominican Republic in winter ball when he was injured in his third start.

Moyer, a free agent, spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies. He left his July 20 start in St. Louis when he strained his left elbow after making a pitch.

He has made 30 or more starts in a season 11 times and has reached double figures in wins 15 times, including four of the last five seasons.

The soft-tossing Moyer says he thinks he can still be a successful big league pitcher.