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	Guardado

CINCINNATI -- Reds closer Eddie Guardado will have ligament-replacement surgery on his left elbow, an operation that usually sidelines pitchers for at least a year.

Guardado had been on the disabled list since Aug. 20 with a sore left forearm, but he thought it was getting better. On Wednesday, an MRI exam revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament, the Reds said. Guardado was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

"No pitcher wants to go through something like this, especially when you come to a new team," Guardado said. "I wanted to help the team out."

The Reds obtained the 35-year-old from Seattle in July. He had 10 saves in 15 chances for Cincinnati.

Guardado said he didn't know when the surgery would be scheduled for.

"Hopefully soon, so I can get it over with, see where I'm at and take it from there," he said.

Cincinnati purchased the contract of right-hander Jason Johnson from Triple-A Louisville.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press