CARDINALS Wainwright out
JUPITER, Fla. - St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright will have elbow ligament replacementsurgery on his right elbow and miss the entire season.
Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak confirmed the news Thursday from spring training camp. He said helearned the severity of the injury Wednesday night after the 29-year-old pitcher sought a second opinion from Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles. A surgery date is not set.
“It’s not a real surprise to us but certainly a disappointment,” Mozeliak said. “As we look to the future now we certainly believe we still have a strong starting rotation. Now we’re going to have to look to try to fill it in terms of a fifth spot.”
Wainwright, who won 20 games last year and was runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award, felt armstiffness after Monday’s throwing session. He had experienced soreness toward the end of last season and didn’t pitch in September. He had minor arm issues in 1998 and 2004.
His loss leaves the team with a big hole in a starting rotation that for now includes Chris Carpenter, Kyle Lohse, Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook.
Manager Tony La Russa said Wednesday, before learning the extent of the injury, that he didn’t expect the Cardinals to try to replace Wainwright through a trade or free agent signing of someone like Kevin Millwood or possibly Pedro Martinez.
La Russa has six or seven pitchers in camp who will have the opportunity to join the rotation.
TIGERS Cabrera reports
LAKELAND, Fla. - Miguel Cabrera arrived at spring training for the first time since he was arrested last week on suspicion of drunken driving and promptly apologized as Major League Baseball said he will undergo treatment set up by doctors administered by management and its players’ union.
The 27-year-old was arrestedFeb. 16 on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting anofficer without violence, both misdemeanors. He is set to be arraigned March 16.
“I am ready to play and am sorry to my family, friends, teammates and the Detroit Tigers organization,” Cabrera said Thursday.
Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski said last week that Cabrera would undergo treatment before arriving. Tigers position players reported Feb. 18.
Dombrowski said Cabrera will be treated throughout the season and it is up to Manager Jim Leyland to decide when Cabrera will be ready to play.
Cabrera will suit up with the Tigers for his first workout today, but won’t see any action when the Tigers scrimmage Florida Southern College.
Rob Manfred, baseball’s executive vice president of labor relations, said Cabrera has been evaluated by representatives of atreatment board operated by MLB and the union.
“Cabrera has voluntarily cooperated and has been completely forthcoming in this process,” Manfred said, adding that Cabrera was recommended “a multifaceted, professionally-administered program” that will “include supervision as is necessary to ensure that he adheres to his program.” MARINERS
Gutierrez does tests
PEORIA, Ariz. - Seattle Mariners starting center fielder Franklin Gutierrez has returned to Seattle to have additional exams for stomach issues that hampered him during the 2010 season.
Manager Eric Wedge said Thursday that Gutierrez flew back to Seattle on Wednesday night and should be back at the Mariners camp today. Gutierrez has been bothered on and off by his stomach in recent days.
Gutierrez was slowed periodically during the last season by the stomach problem that caused him to lose weight. Wedge said Gutierrez was fine when he arrived at spring training and had participated in all drills until Thursday.
Sports, Pages 20 on 02/25/2011