Joba Chamberlain (elbow) said Thursday that he expects to begin a throwing program in "a few weeks."

Joba, who underwent Tommy John surgery in early June, is aiming to return to the major leagues in mid-April of next season. That seems a bit optimistic, but recovery does take significantly less time for relievers.

Joba Chamberlain underwent an appendectomy earlier this month.

Chamberlain had the procedure two weeks ago and reportedly didn't bother telling the Yankees. The 25-year-old right-hander is fresh off Tommy John surgery and will likely be sidelined until the second half of the 2012 season.

Yankees transferred Joba Chamberlain from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

He was cleared to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for Kevin Whelan. Chamberlain is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery next Thursday with Dr. James Andrews.

Joba Chamberlain has been diagnosed with a torn ligament in his throwing elbow.

An MRI revealed the damage on Thursday. Chamberlain has already been placed on the disabled list and could need Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery if the problem can't be fixed with a simple rehab process. There's a chance we won't see the 25-year-old right-hander on a major league mound for an entire year.

Yankees placed RHP Joba Chamberlain on the 15-day disabled list with a strained flexor muscle.

Chamberlain will be shut down for the next 10-14 days before the Yankees' physicians reevaluate his status. He seems likely to miss a total of three or four weeks. The 25-year-old has a 2.83 ERA and 1.05 WHIP this season in 28 2/3 innings of relief.

Joba Chamberlain returned to action on Wednesday May 25.

Joba Chamberlain has some inflammation in his left eye and may be unavailable for a few days.

Chamberlain has pitched well in relief this season, especially recently, and can boast a 3.47 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 23 1/3 innings. He also has a 20/4 K/BB ratio.

Joba Chamberlain allowed a home run to Jarrod Saltalamacchia Wednesday in a Yankees loss.

Chamberlain appeared twice in the Yanks' weekend series against Boston and allowed a total of three earned runs on four hits. He's shown great control this season (17/3 K/BB ratio over 19 innings), but the Red Sox certainly had him figured out.

Joba Chamberlain said that if he's lucky enough to still be pitching when he's 35, he'd like to retire at that point so he can spend more time with his son.

"There are so many firsts in his life that I want to be there for," Chamberlain said. "To see his date off to prom. Things like that, there is no amount of money in the world that can take that back. If I've done my job, 14 years in the big leagues. Hopefully, my family will be financially secure that I'm able to be with him and not have to work." It's hard to argue with that, but if the velocity of Chamberlain's fastball keeps dropping and his waistline keeps expanding, he might not make it that far.

Joba Chamberlain's fastball is averaging 93.6 MPH this year, down from 94.6 MPH in 2010.

Chamberlain has delivered mixed results this season, sporting a 4.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 9/3 K/BB ratio over his first nine frames. The right-hander told reporters Monday that he is now more of a "pitcher," rather than the free-wheeling "thrower" who first cracked the big leagues in 2007. It remains to be seen whether the drop in velocity will affect him long term.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi has officially named Joba Chamberlain his seventh inning man.

Girardi made it official after Chamberlain pitched a perfect seventh inning in Monday's win over the Twins. "We loved the way he threw the ball in spring training," said Girardi. "Feliciano has not been healthy for us. There might be situations where you bring both of them in in an inning. Feliciano to get some lefties and Joba to get some righties. But Joba has the ability to get lefties out, as well as righties. We loved the way he threw the ball in spring training."

Joba Chamberlain (oblique) is scheduled to return to game action Tuesday against the Orioles.

Chamberlain was sidelined last week due to an oblique strain, but he threw a bullpen session over the weekend with no issues. He is expected to be fine for Opening Day.

Joba Chamberlain (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday in Yankees camp.

Chamberlain played a free and easy game of catch on Thursday and reported no issues with his strained oblique when he arrived back at the Yanks' complex Friday morning. He should be fine in a couple of days and still has time to ready himself for Opening Day.

Joba Chamberlain underwent an MRI on his sore left side Monday that revealed an oblique strain.

The Yankees were hoping that it was just soreness, but the MRI showed some damage. Chamberlain won't throw for at least a week and is now in danger of missing the start of the regular season. He has registered a 3.60 ERA over five appearances this spring.

Joba Chamberlain will be sidelined for the next couple of days due to soreness on his left side.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters Monday in camp that he doesn't believe the injury to be serious. If that's the case, Joba should be cleared to resume facing live hitters by the end of the week. He has a 3.60 ERA in five spring appearance thus far.

Joba Chamberlain pitched a perfect inning Saturday against the Phillies in his spring debut.

Chamberlain may have showed up to came overweight, but his arm was in shape, as he was throwing 92-94 mph today. If he can pitch up to his potential, it'll be awfully difficult to come back on the Yankees in the late innings this season.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acknowledged Wednesday that Joba Chamberlain gained weight over the offseason.

"He's obviously heavier," said Cashman. "That's as much as I'll say." There has been some debate about whether Chamberlain has packed on muscle or fat during the offseason, but Cashman's comments suggest that he's not thrilled with the situation. Cashman indicated earlier this week that Chamberlain's spot in the bullpen is in his own hands. We're interested to see him on the mound, but it sure doesn't sound like he's off to a good start.

Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record writes that Joba Chamberlain is "unquestionably overweight."

We've had some conflicting reports regarding this issue, as Chamberlain insisted last week that whatever weight he has gained over the offseason is muscle. In truth, it doesn't really matter whether Chamberlain is up or down 15 pounds as long as he pitches well.

Joba Chamberlain said Wednesday that he put a gym in house during the offseason and added some muscle.

Erik Boland of New York Newsday wrote that Chamberlain was looking heavier, but some added muscle isn't necessarily a bad thing. The 25-year-old right-hander posted a 4.40 ERA over 73 relief appearances last season, but had a very solid 77/22 K/BB ratio over 71 2/3 innings. Many fans hoped to see him get another shot in the starting rotation after Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies, but the Yankees intend to keep him in the bullpen.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday that Joba Chamberlain hasn't been the same pitcher since injuring his right shoulder in August of 2008.

In other words, Cashman confirmed what many have suspected for a while now. "I don't think his stuff is the same since he hurt himself in Texas [in August 2008], explained Cashman. "...The stuff plays up better in the 'pen." Cashman volunteered the information when he was asked if Chamberlain was a consideration for the starting rotation. Chamberlain looked like an elite young starting pitcher prior to the injury, but it's clear that the Yankees don't think his arm can handle being a stater in the big leagues.