Cardinals' Garcia to undergo thoracic surgery Friday

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia will undergo thoracic outlet surgery Friday to relieve nerve issues in his pitching arm, shoulder and hand. Garcia and doctors believe the injury has dogged him for several years.

Garcia referred to the procedure, which involved the removal of the first rib, as the "most logical and only option I have." He made the announcement on his 28th birthday.

The recovery period is three to four months, and the oft-injured Garcia is confident he will be back next season for the final year of a $27 million, four-year contract.

"Obviously, this is a really tough surgery and it's not easy to come back," Garcia said. "They're taking a piece of bone out of my body and I don't think anybody wants to go through it. I'm already thinking about being for sure ready to go."

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said the team would likely have a better handle on Garcia's future in two months.

The Cardinals, who already had ruled Garcia out for the year, were initially surprised by the pitcher's decision to have the procedure done by an outside specialist and rejecting other treatment options, and then revealing plans before informing the team.

"Obviously, when you think about this type of surgery there's certain risks involved," Mozeliak said. "But based on how he's feeling and his past history he feels like this is a last resort."

Garcia was a 13-game winner each of his first two seasons in 2010 and 2011. He has totaled 15 wins since then.

This year he was 3-1 with a 4.12 ERA in seven starts after beginning the year on the 15-day disabled list while rehabbing from shoulder surgery.