Phoenix — Tim Hudson left Dr. James Andrews' clinic with a new ligament in his pitching elbow and an arduous 12-month recovery ahead.

Fellow Braves right-hander Rafael Soriano left the same clinic with questions unanswered.

Hudson had season-ending "Tommy John" ligament-transplant surgery Friday at Andrews' clinic in Pensacola, Fla., a procedure that was termed successful by the noted orthopedic surgeon.

Meanwhile, Soriano remained frustrated and in limbo after a sophisticated dye-injection MRI done at Andrews' clinic proved inconclusive. It was the third MRI on his elbow in eight months, and he also had a CT scan done earlier in the summer.

None of the exams has shown structural damage to the ulnar collateral ligament. Soriano, on the disabled list for the third time this season, once again will start a throwing program. If pain persists, Andrews recommended an exploratory orthroscopy and possible ulnar-nerve transposition surgery.

Soriano signed a two-year, $9 million contract in January. His salary will jump from $2.4 million to $6.1 million next season in what would have been his first year of free agency.

The team flew him to Atlanta in January for a physical and MRI before the contract was signed.

The Braves got him from Seattle in a December 2006 trade for left-hander Horacio Ramirez. Soriano prospered as a setup man and backup closer with Atlanta in 2007, posting a 3.00 ERA with career-highs of 72 strikeouts, 71 appearances and 70 innings, and converting nine of 12 saves.

His elbow problems began almost immediately in spring training this year, and he has made only 14 appearances between DL stints, posting a 2.57 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 14 innings.

Soriano had "Tommy John" elbow surgery in August 2004 and missed most of the 2005 season.

Hudson faces long recovery

Hudson hopes to return by August 2009, the last guaranteed season of a four-year contract that includes a mutual option for 2010.

The 33-year-old never spent time on the DL for arm problems before this one. He had two tears — one complete, one partial — in his ulnar collateral ligament.

In the ligament-transplant procedure, the ligament is replaced with a tendon from the wrist of the non-throwing hand. Current Braves pitchers who've had the surgery include Soriano, John Smoltz, Mike Gonzalez, Jorge Campillo and Jeff Bennett. Second baseman Kelly Johnson also had it, and missed the 2006 season. The typical recovery period is 12 months for pitchers, with some requiring a few weeks less and others 2-3 months longer.

Hudson has a $13 million salary in 2009, with a $12 million option for 2010 and $1 million buyout.

He went 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA this season and has a 146-77 career record. His .655 winning percentage is second-highest among active pitchers with at least 200 decisions, behind Pedro Martinez (.691).

James demoted to Richmond

Third baseman Chipper Jones was activated from the DL, as expected, and pitcher Chuck James was optioned to Class AAA Richmond.

Jones was out 15 days while recovering from left hamstring and right quadriceps strains. He was in the lineup Friday against Arizona.

James (2-5) has struggled in Class AAA and the majors, trying to get his career back on track after recovering from a partially torn rotator cuff last fall.

The 26-year-old Mableton native's stock has slipped badly since his 11-4, 3.78 ERA rookie season in 2006. He won 11 again in 2007, but James was serving up hits, walks and especially home runs at an alarming rate in the second half of last season. He still is.

He has a 9.10 ERA in seven starts this season, with 10 homers and 20 walks allowed in 29 2/3 innings. He has a 7.27 ERA and 24 homers allowed in 15 starts since Aug. 5, 2007.

James doesn't know what's happened to his pitching mechanics or once-vaunted changeup. Does he ask himself how it's come to this, after he won 11 games each of his first two seasons?

"A few times a day," he said. "But I've just got to the bright side of it. It is what it is. Got to keep working, try to push forward. It's been a stressful year."