BRADENTON, Fla. -- Reliever Juan Perez, a member of the Pirates' 40-man roster, could require major surgery on his left elbow.

A recent examination revealed "some structural damage" to an elbow ligament, general manager Neal Huntington said yesterday. For now, the team's plan is to try to rehabilitate the injury through gradual exercise and light throwing. If that fails, the procedure known as Tommy John surgery will be next, and that would put Perez out for 18 months or more.

Under any circumstance, he will open the coming season on the 60-day disabled list.

"We'll take it one step at a time," Huntington said. "Juan didn't have a realistic chance at making our team this year, but you hate to lose anyone off your roster."

Perez, 29, made only two Grapefruit League outings this spring, none since March 7, the outing in which he was hurt.

He made the team out of spring training last year and had a 4.38 ERA in two stints. In 40 games for Class AAA Indianapolis, he had a 4.69 ERA.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Perez said. "We'll see."