ARLINGTON -- Rangers left-hander Martin Perez is expected to miss the beginning of the 2018 season while recovering from a broken bone in his right elbow.
Perez fractured the radial head in his right non-throwing elbow due to a freak accident at his ranch in Venezuela on Dec. 11. Perez fell on the elbow when he was startled by a sudden movement by one of his bulls. He underwent surgery Monday.
The recovery time from the surgery is considered to be four months, which would take Perez into April. Perez is hoping to speed up the recovery process, and the Rangers are optimistic because it is his non-throwing arm.
"The conservative estimate is May 1, so he'll miss a matter of weeks, not months," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said.

Daniels said the injury will not alter the Rangers' offseason plans. They have already acquired three potential starters in Matt Moore, Doug Fister and Mike Minor, and will give Matt Bush a chance to start as well. Texas continues to look for more starting pitching depth, but Daniels said he is not looking for a high-priced starter like Yu Darvish or Jacob Arrieta.
"Nothing has changed," Daniels said. "We have been pretty consistent in what we have said all winter."
The surgery was done by Dr. Thomas Diliberti in Dallas. Fragments were removed from the elbow and the radial head was replaced. Perez has range of motion and will be able to resume throwing in three to four weeks.
Rangers sign Bibens-Dirkx, Goeddel
Texas has signed right-handers Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Erik Goeddel to Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training. Both can start or relieve.
Bibens-Dirkx made six starts and 18 relief appearances for the Rangers this past season and was 5-2 with a 4.67 ERA. He was also limited in September because of a broken bone in his right hand. Texas took him off the 40-man roster at the end of the season.

"We're glad he is back," Daniels said. "We expressed interest right after we took him off the roster. He was looking at his options and came back to us, and we were able to work out a deal."
Goeddel has pitched in 110 games for the Mets over the past four years, going 3-4 with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He averages 9.37 strikeouts per nine innings with a 92-mph fastball, curve and split-finger offspeed pitch.
Rangers beat
• Third baseman Adrian Beltre has been selected as the winner of the Harold McKinney Good Guy Award. Beltre, who recorded his 3,000th hit this past summer, will be honored at the Dr. Pepper Awards Dinner on Jan. 19 at Gilley's Dallas. Tickets are available at texasrangers.com/awards.
• Bibens-Dirkx has been selected as the Rangers' Rookie of the Year and will be honored at the same dinner.
• The Rangers have re-signed Minor League infielder Luis Marte and pitcher Richelson Pena. Both were Minor League free agents.