Cardinals Rumors: St. Louis Could Pursue Starting Pitcher

The St. Louis Cardinals will wait to learn more about Chris Carpenter’s injury before deciding on whether or not to pursue a veteran starting pitcher, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Carpenter has yet to throw a pitch for the Cardinals this season due to a shoulder injury. Rosenthal reports St. Louis is hopeful Carpenter can return by late July or early August.

How Carpenter and fellow Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia, who could miss two months due to a strained left shoulder, progress in the coming weeks will determine whether or not the Cardinals pursue a veteran starter.

Rosenthal adds that, before the extent of Garcia’s injury was known, the Cardinals had expressed interest in free agent Jeff Francis. The veteran wanted a guaranteed spot in the Cardinals rotation if he was to sign. This wasn’t something the Cardinals could offer at the time as Garcia was still thought to be healthy, and Francis went on to reach an agreement with his former club, the Colorado Rockies.