Jay to have wrist surgery; Yadi, Waino prescribed rest
Cards expect center fielder to resume offseason routine after 6-8 weeks
ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals intend to tender Jon Jay, a second-year arbitration-eligible player, a contract this winter and have him open the season as the team's starting center fielder. But before any of that happens, Jay will have his left wrist scoped in order to address an injury that occurred about three months ago.
General manager John Mozeliak, speaking at an end-of-the-season media debriefing, made that announcement on Monday while also providing updates on others recovering from injury. Jay is the only player currently scheduled to have an offseason procedure. After Wednesday's scope, he is expected to need 6-8 weeks to recover before resuming a normal offseason training program.
"We're very optimistic that it will be a relatively simple procedure," Mozeliak added.
How Jay hurt his wrist remains unclear, but Mozeliak said Jay began receiving treatment on it in late July. In order to continue playing through the discomfort, Jay reduced the number of swings he took pregame. None of it did anything to affect production, however, as Jay hit .325/.410/.394 over the final two months of the regular season and then went 14-for-29 in October.
Here is a rundown of additional injury updates, as offered by Mozeliak:
Yadier Molina (left oblique strain, right thumb injury): The Cardinals expect Molina to be 100 percent by the start of Spring Training after addressing both injuries with sufficient offseason rest.
Adam Wainwright (right elbow discomfort): Wainwright visited with the medical staff on Friday, and they found no reason to have long-term concern about Wainwright's elbow. The Cardinals plan for him is to have a normal offseason during which he'll benefit primarily from rest. The club will likely cut back on Wainwright's workload in Spring Training to compensate for his innings count over the past two seasons.
Michael Wacha (right shoulder stress reaction): Wacha underwent an MRI on Friday, and the Cardinals were encouraged to learn that it came back clean. "Even the doctors were a little surprised on how that looked," Mozeliak added. Wacha plans to follow a normal offseason program.
Jaime Garcia (thoracic outlet surgery): Garcia underwent the procedure in July and the recovery time remains somewhat fluid. The Cardinals likely won't know until Spring Training whether Garcia will be a factor on the Opening Day roster.