NEW YORK, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran could miss the start of the 2010 season because of right knee surgery.
Various media reports said team officials were angered upon learning he had the procedure, performed in Denver by his personal physician, Dr. Richard Steadman, without the team's approval.
Stedman said the 32-year-old player has "osteoarthritis," a form of arthritis, in the knee.
The team said in a statement late Wednesday that Beltran, 32, is expected to resume baseball activities in 12 weeks, two days after their first regular-season game on April 8 against the Florida Marlins.
He started having trouble with the knee last May and went to the disabled list for 2 1/2 months with what the team called a deep bone bruise.
Beltran returned in September. For the season, he played in just 81 games with a .325 batting average, 10 home runs and 48 RBI in 308 at-bats.
