Nerve injury likely signals end of Carpenter’s career

Chris Carpenter may have thrown his final pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals.

General manager John Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny announced Tuesday that Carpenter, 37, almost certainly won’t pitch in 2013 and that his star-crossed career is probably over after a recurrence of a nerve injury that cost him most of last season. Carpenter did not attend because, Mozeliak said, his emotions are still too raw.

Retirement isn’t official yet. Carpenter plans to seek further medical evaluation.

“He’s leaving the door slightly open, but it’s unlikely,” Mozeliak said of Carpenter’s return.

MLB WANTS RECORDS

Major League Baseball officials have asked the Miami New Times for records the alternative newspaper obtained for a story on alleged use of banned substances by New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and several other players.

Miami New Times editor Chuck Strouse said Tuesday the paper had not decided how to respond. Strouse described the MLB move as a request and noted that the league does not have legal subpoena power.

The newspaper reported last week that Rodriguez and other players had obtained human growth hormone and other banned substances from a now-closed Coral Gables, Fla., clinic operated by Anthony Bosch.

The story was based on clinic records, many with handwritten notations, the New Times said it obtained.