Benson met with Orioles vice president Jim Duquette on Tuesday morning and was later given approval to have the surgery after he conferred with team doctors. He left the team to return home to Atlanta and is expected to have the surgery early next week.

...The Orioles paid Benson $7.5 million last year and are responsible for $7.5 million this season. They still could pick up an option for 2008, but that is not considered likely.

Because he was traded in the middle of a multi-year contract, Benson could have requested a trade this offseason, but declined that option. He'll now likely be a free agent at season's end, but would like to come back to the Orioles, his agent said.