Fuentes leaves St. Louis Cardinals, likely done for season

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals 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 back left-handed starter Jaime Garcia.

Cardinals 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." Mozeliak 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.

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

Garcia, who has been out with a shoulder injury since early June, threw 93 pitches over five innings in his fourth injury rehab start Tuesday night for Class AAA Memphis. He struck out eight, walked three and left trailing Salt Lake 2-0.

Garcia won 13 games during his first two seasons in 2009 and 2010, but he 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 would move to the bullpen.

"Possibly yes," Mozeliak said. "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. He totaled 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 to provide a veteran arm and considered 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, and both are struggling. Marc Rzepczynski was 1-3 with a 5.02 ERA, while rookie Barret Browning took the loss in two of the past three games entering Tuesday's game.

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

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