DUNEDIN, Florida - Michael Saunders is electing short-term gain and possible long-term pain over the alternative and his decision should have him debuting in a Blue Jays' uniform some time in April.

The 28-year-old outfielder underwent left knee surgery on Friday afternoon, a little more than 48 hours after tearing his meniscus in a freak accident at the club's minor league training complex.

He suffered what general manager Alex Anthopoulos described a "significant tear" and chose the surgical path of least resistance.

Blue Jays orthopedic surgeon Dr. Steven Mirabello removed approximately 60-percent of the meniscus cartilage in Saunders' left knee.

Therein holds the key to a quicker recovery: A meniscus repair would have shelved Saunders for longer - possibly until July's All-Star Break, which was the initial prognosis Anthopoulos shared on Thursday morning. By having the tear removed, Saunders was expected to walk out of the hospital on Friday night and be ready for big league action by about mid-April.

What a difference three months will make to a Jays club lacking outfield depth.

"It's nice that he's got his chance to be back by middle April and look, if he recovers well it could be a little sooner but I think that's fair," said Anthopoulos.

If all goes well Saunders will be running in two weeks and could appear in Grapefruit League games in late March. Even so, it's unlikely he joins his teammates for opening day at Yankee Stadium on April 6.

"He's going to need at-bats so I think that's where it's going to take a little bit longer," said Anthopoulos. "Just playing time and all that; if (the injury) had been during the season, you know maybe taking a few weeks off, you're talking it wouldn't take as long."

Now with significantly less cartilage in his left knee, Saunders becomes a more likely candidate for complications later in life. The area could become arthritic. Those issues aren't likely to arise until middle age, after his playing days are over.

Saunders had all the information before him. Anthopoulos said the Victoria, B.C. native spoke to family and friends before making his choice.

"It was ultimately his decision, what he wanted to do," said Anthopoulos. "We were going to know once they went in there but it wasn't even an option to get it repaired."

Acquired from Seattle on December 3 in a trade for left-hander J.A. Happ, Saunders is to be the Jays' replacement in leftfield for the departed Melky Cabrera.

In 78 games (263 plate appearances) last season, Saunders hit .273/.341/.450 with eight home runs, 26 walks and 59 strikeouts.