Major League Baseball

Fuentes placed on restricted list

Published Aug. 14, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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The St. Louis Cardinals have placed relief pitcher Brian Fuentes on the restricted list after the left-hander told the team he needed time off due to personal reasons. They're on the verge of getting left-handed starter Jaime Garcia back.

General manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday that the team did not expect Fuentes back this season, adding ''I didn't close the door on anything but I don't anticipate it.'' He added he could tell ''that something was bothering him.''

Fuentes will not count against the 40-man roster while on the restricted list and won't be paid.

"He called me yesterday and said he was dealing with some personal issues, and at time he said he just could no longer play for us,'' Mozeliak said. ''I did not dig in on it. Clearly, he was not looking to share exactly what was going on with me.''

Mozeliak said Fuentes' decision had nothing to do with his role on the team, adding that Fuentes said the GM a complimentary note.

Right-hander Trevor Rosenthal was recalled from Triple-A Memphis for Tuesday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Garcia, out since early June with a shoulder injury, was scheduled to make his fourth injury rehabilitation start Tuesday night, pitching for Memphis against Salt Lake. Garcia won 13 games each of his first two seasons in 2009 and 2010 but is 3-4 with a 4.48 ERA in 11 starts this year.

Garcia could take over Sunday's turn in the rotation from rookie Joe Kelly, who started Tuesday night against Arizona. Kelly, 2-5 with a 3.47 ERA, would move to the bullpen.

''Possibly, yes,'' Mozeliak said. ''Two things, we'll see how he throws and how he feels tomorrow. That'll be really what dictates our next move.''

The 37-year-old Fuentes signed as a minor league free agent last month and has appeared in six games, totaling five innings. The four-time All-Star closer had been released by Oakland, which is paying the majority of his $5 million salary. St. Louis was responsible for only a prorated share of the $480,000 minimum.

St. Louis had been counting on Fuentes providing a veteran arm, considering him a trade deadline pickup.

''Really, I was disappointed frankly,'' Mozeliak said. ''He played into how we made decisions, so to have it end this way is definitely disappointing. But there's no looking back for us at this point.''

St. Louis has two lefties remaining in the bullpen, both struggling. Marc Rzepczynski was 1-3 with a 5.02 ERA and rookie Barret Browning has taken the loss two of the last three games.

The 22-year-old Rosenthal was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four games covering four innings with the Cardinals last month and made his major league debut on July 18. Since being optioned back to Memphis on Aug. 1, Rosenthal had 13 strikeouts in 10 innings.

Mozeliak said first baseman Lance Berkman, on the DL since Aug. 3, was not close to being ready to returning. Matt Adams, impressive as a fill-in at first base, had surgery Tuesday for a bone spur in his right elbow.

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