Walden seeking second opinion on right arm

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals have sent an MRI taken of Jordan Walden's bothersome right arm off for a second doctor's opinion, after which the club will decide what sort of rehab program Walden will begin, general manager John Mozeliak said on Tuesday. Surgery has not been ruled out as a possibility.

Walden was placed on the 15-day disabled list over the weekend with right biceps inflammation and has been in a holding pattern since. Mozeliak acknowledged a moderate level of concern when asked about the severity of the injury, noting that some pitchers try to pitch through it, while others require surgery.

The Cardinals should know within the next few days which path Walden will take.

"I don't know him well enough to know," Mozeliak said of the Cardinals' setup man. "What he's telling me right now is he's leaning toward pitching."

Walden, who signed a two-year extension after being acquired from the Braves in November, opened the season with a 0.87 ERA in 12 games, pitching primarily in the eighth inning. In his absence, the Cardinals will use Seth Maness, Kevin Siegrist and Matt Belisle to fill that late-inning void.

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Additional medical updates from the club:

• Randal Grichuk (lower back tightness) is expected to travel to Florida on Thursday and begin working out in extended spring camp on Friday. Grichuk, who has slowly increased baseball activity over the past week, will be able to accrue plenty of at-bats in that setting. Mozeliak said it has not yet been determined whether Grichuk would need to also go out on a Minor League rehab assignment after his extended spring stay.

• Tommy Pham (left quadriceps tightness) remains in the Cardinals' Florida rehab program, but is limited in activity. He continues to complain of tightness in his leg, which is why the Cardinals recently moved him to the 60-day DL.