Reitsma surgery goes well

SEATTLE – Chris Reitsma got the best news he’s had in five elbow surgeries.

The Mariners veteran right-hander, who failed as their primary setup reliever while pitching in pain for most of the season, said Friday that arthroscopic surgery this week went far better than he feared it might. Still, he remains out for the season.

“I’m very relieved. I was worried there would be something else wrong,” Reitsma said, a day after Mariners medical director Dr. Edward Khalfayan removed some scar tissue and a small section of the elbow that had been causing pain each time Reitsma pitched.

“It actually went better than we thought,” Mariners manager John McLaren said.

Reitsma, the 29-year-old who entered last season as the closer for the Atlanta Braves, confirmed what he said earlier this week, that he is out for the season. But unlike Wednesday after he went on the disabled list for the third time this season, he wasn’t talking about possibly retiring.

“I should hopefully be ready to go for spring training. I’ll keep rehabbing through the winter,” he said.

Reitsma, who had a career high 15 saves in 2005 with the Braves, is signed only for this season at a salary of $2.05 million. He went 0-2 with a 7.61 ERA in 26 games, leaving doubt whether the Mariners will attempt to re-sign him in the off-season. He said nobody from the team has approached him yet about 2008.

“I’d love to come back here,” Reitsma said. “Every one has been nothing but great to me here since day one.”