Devilrayshome.com | Tampa Bay Rays News, rays Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>A deal delayed had to be a deal redone when a tear was discovered in the pitching shoulder of Trever Miller, the lefty who said the Cardinals had pursued him since free agency opened. </div>Miller had a physical in St. Louis nearly two weeks ago and finally finalized a one-year deal Wednesday with the Cardinals. When an examination of his shoulder revealed an imperfection in his labrum, the Cardinals moved to rewrite the two-year deal the parties had in place and lace their offer with incentives based on appearances. Miller said he could make $2 million if he reaches all of the bonuses. The injury "was a surprise to me," Miller said. "It's risky for them to give me a two-year deal with that situation in my shoulder. ... I don't feel a thing. I was surprised by the interpretation of the team doctor. I'm not worried in the least about this. I'm not going to use it as an excuse or a crutch." Miller, 35, adds the bona fide lefty specialist that the Cardinals lacked last season. Pitching for the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays in the brawny AL East, he held lefties to a .209 average and a .302 on-base percentage and struck out 30 of the 91 batters he faced. He also was the best free agent on the market when it came to stranding inherited runners, and his 19 percent was lowest in the majors the past three years. The Cardinals have been in the market for two lefthanded relievers, though general manager John Mozeliak said Miller's signing Wednesday may alter their shopping list. Filling jobs in the middle infield is of specific interest as next week's winter meetings approach. The Cardinals' interest in infielder Edgar Renteria has cooled, and San Francisco's has intensified in the past week. The Cardinals and Cincinnati have made offers to veteran lefty Arthur Rhodes, and indications earlier this week were that Rhodes' interest in the Cardinals was mutual. Mozeliak declined to discuss specific offers, saying only that the Cardinals may look at both righthanded and lefty relievers to augment a retooled bullpen. Pitching coach Dave Duncan said he wouldn't object to having a second lefty specialist available in addition to Miller. "That's his strength," Duncan said. "That is when he's been used most effectively - as a specialist. He gives us a weapon that we didn't really have last year. There are lefthanded pitchers who you can use against lefthanded hitters that give you a legitimate chance to get the guy out in key at-bats, late in games." In the previous three seasons, Miller held lefties to a .213 batting average and a .348 slugging percentage. His arm angle is such that it makes it tricky for lefties to pick up the ball. The Rays bought out Miller's $2 million option for $400,000 shortly after the World Series. The Cardinals moved quickly to lock in Miller to a two-year, $4 million deal, pending a physical. The physical proved a problem when an MRI of Miller's shoulder revealed a rip in his labrum. Surgery does not appear necessary, but the Cardinals, gun shy after a recent rash of disabled list-bound pitchers, wanted protection. "We had to go back to the drawing board," Miller said. "When you consider injuries in players, there are players who feel discomfort and the MRI shows nothing, and there are pitchers who feel great and the MRI shows something," Mozeliak said. "You want the latter. There is a natural wear and tear when it comes to pitching. ... We took a step by getting that legitimate lefty reliever. We need to be open to see how the next week unfolds." Miller said after the physical on Nov. 20 he chased only one other option, a return to the Rays. Cincinnati had pursued Miller, but the lefty said he narrowed his focus to pitching where he lived (for Tampa Bay) or working something out with his most-eager suitor, the Cardinals. TICKET-PACK SALE Multi-game ticket packages for the 2009 regular season will go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday, the Cardinals announced. Individual tickets for all 81 home games in the all-inclusive areas such as Left-Field Landing, the Champions Club and Commissioner's Box also will go on sale. The ticket packs that go on sale are the 12-game "La Russa Plan," ranging from $209 to $1,389 and 7- and 10-game "Pujols Packs" that start at $109. All packs include a ticket to All-Star FanFest. Tickets can be purchased at www.stlcardinals.com, or by calling 314-345-9000.

A deal delayed had to be a deal redone when a tear was discovered in the pitching shoulder of Trever Miller, the lefty who said the Cardinals had pursued him since free agency opened.

Miller had a physical in St. Louis nearly two weeks ago and finally finalized a one-year deal Wednesday with the Cardinals. When an examination of his shoulder revealed an imperfection in his labrum, the Cardinals moved to rewrite the two-year deal the parties had in place and lace their offer with incentives based on appearances. Miller said he could make $2 million if he reaches all of the bonuses.

The injury "was a surprise to me," Miller said. "It's risky for them to give me a two-year deal with that situation in my shoulder. ... I don't feel a thing. I was surprised by the interpretation of the team doctor. I'm not worried in the least about this. I'm not going to use it as an excuse or a crutch."

Miller, 35, adds the bona fide lefty specialist that the Cardinals lacked last season. Pitching for the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays in the brawny AL East, he held lefties to a .209 average and a .302 on-base percentage and struck out 30 of the 91 batters he faced. He also was the best free agent on the market when it came to stranding inherited runners, and his 19 percent was lowest in the majors the past three years.

The Cardinals have been in the market for two lefthanded relievers, though general manager John Mozeliak said Miller's signing Wednesday may alter their shopping list. Filling jobs in the middle infield is of specific interest as next week's winter meetings approach. The Cardinals' interest in infielder Edgar Renteria has cooled, and San Francisco's has intensified in the past week.

The Cardinals and Cincinnati have made offers to veteran lefty Arthur Rhodes, and indications earlier this week were that Rhodes' interest in the Cardinals was mutual. Mozeliak declined to discuss specific offers, saying only that the Cardinals may look at both righthanded and lefty relievers to augment a retooled bullpen.

Pitching coach Dave Duncan said he wouldn't object to having a second lefty specialist available in addition to Miller.

"That's his strength," Duncan said. "That is when he's been used most effectively - as a specialist. He gives us a weapon that we didn't really have last year. There are lefthanded pitchers who you can use against lefthanded hitters that give you a legitimate chance to get the guy out in key at-bats, late in games."

In the previous three seasons, Miller held lefties to a .213 batting average and a .348 slugging percentage. His arm angle is such that it makes it tricky for lefties to pick up the ball.

The Rays bought out Miller's $2 million option for $400,000 shortly after the World Series. The Cardinals moved quickly to lock in Miller to a two-year, $4 million deal, pending a physical. The physical proved a problem when an MRI of Miller's shoulder revealed a rip in his labrum. Surgery does not appear necessary, but the Cardinals, gun shy after a recent rash of disabled list-bound pitchers, wanted protection.

"We had to go back to the drawing board," Miller said.

"When you consider injuries in players, there are players who feel discomfort and the MRI shows nothing, and there are pitchers who feel great and the MRI shows something," Mozeliak said. "You want the latter. There is a natural wear and tear when it comes to pitching. ... We took a step by getting that legitimate lefty reliever. We need to be open to see how the next week unfolds."

Miller said after the physical on Nov. 20 he chased only one other option, a return to the Rays. Cincinnati had pursued Miller, but the lefty said he narrowed his focus to pitching where he lived (for Tampa Bay) or working something out with his most-eager suitor, the Cardinals.

TICKET-PACK SALE

Multi-game ticket packages for the 2009 regular season will go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday, the Cardinals announced. Individual tickets for all 81 home games in the all-inclusive areas such as Left-Field Landing, the Champions Club and Commissioner's Box also will go on sale. The ticket packs that go on sale are the 12-game "La Russa Plan," ranging from $209 to $1,389 and 7- and 10-game "Pujols Packs" that start at $109. All packs include a ticket to All-Star FanFest. Tickets can be purchased at www.stlcardinals.com, or by calling 314-345-9000.