Flores has surgery on left elbow

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals left-handed reliever Randy Flores is expected to be ready for spring training after surgery to remove a bone spur from his throwing elbow.

Flores, 30, had the surgery Friday at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, the Cardinals said Monday. He is expected to begin throwing in six to eight weeks and be fully recovered by the time the Cardinals report to Jupiter, Fla., in mid-February, team spokesman Brian Bartow said.

With Ray King's return uncertain after he criticized manager Tony La Russa for failing to use him during the postseason, Flores may be the only returning left-handed reliever. He was 3-1 with a 3.46 ERA in 50 appearances in 2005.

Flores was the second Cardinals reliever to have surgery in October. Right-hander Al Reyes had reconstructive surgery Oct. 18 to repair a torn elbow ligament that had pulled off the bone.

Former team physician George Paletta, who did the operation, said the Reyes injury was among the worst he has seen among 200 elbow reconstructions. Reyes is expected to miss nine to 12 months and his return even for late 2006 is uncertain.

Reyes, 35, was probably the Cardinals' best middle reliever in 2005, going 4-2 with a 2.15 ERA in 65 appearances. He allowed no runs in his final 11 appearances.