Detroit ? Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield had shoulder surgery Monday and is expected to recover in time for the start of spring training.

The operation to repair a tear in his right shoulder was done in Miami. The 38-year-old slugger also had surgery on the shoulder in 1995. The shoulder will be supported by a sling for a month before he begins rehabilitation.

Sheffield played through most of the second half of last season with a sore shoulder, missing the first week of August and going on the disabled list for two weeks later in the month.

He appeared in 133 games for Detroit this year, batting .265 with 25 home runs, 75 RBIs and 107 runs. He signed through 2009 and will earn $28 million over the next two seasons.

The nine-time All-Star has hit .296 over with 480 homers for his career, which began in 1988 with Milwaukee. He also played for San Diego, Florida, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta and the New York Yankees before Detroit acquired him last year.