The Cardinals will have Reyes report to spring training on a starter’s program, though he may be a week or two behind the other starters as they ease him into work. The plan is to have him ready for opening day or soon after — but the role and team is TBD. Or, as Mozeliak said repeatedly this week, “wait and see.” The Cardinals are open to having one of the top pitching prospects in the game open the season at Class AAA as a starter in order to prove durability and health before arriving in the majors. They also acknowledge the possibility a relief role could be a way to reduce innings and, with some rules in place, maximize his effectiveness.

Reyes could have an apprentice year like Adam Wainwright did in 2006, and the Cardinals feel their manager and coaching staff is nimble enough to understand if Reyes cannot be used on back-to-back days or his weekly innings might be rationed.

His health will dictate his availability. The need will determine his role.

“You can handle any pitcher who has limitations when they can be used as long as they’re covering innings,” Girsch said. “If you can cover 85 innings out of the bullpen that’s a really useful bullpen piece. That’s more than the average bullpen piece. So you’re fine. Even if you do it in 50 games instead of 60 or 70 or whatever. This is all stuff we’ve got to figure out. Who is in the bullpen, who is on our roster, (and) who is healthy. Come March, when we get to the point, I’m not overly concerned that we can’t take advantage of all these options.”

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