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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny has had surgery to repair a ruptured disc in his lower back.

Matheny had the procedure yesterday in St. Louis. Before leaving the team on Sunday, Matheny said he expected to be back at spring training for Thursday's game against Atlanta in Jupiter.

The 42 year old Matheny, who replaced Tony La Russa as manager after the 2011 season, said early in spring training that the injury probably traces back to his days as a big league catcher from 1994-06.

Bench coach Mike Aldrete is managing the team in Matheny's absence.

The St Louis baseball Cardinals have extended General Manager John Mozeliak's contract through 2016 and picked up manager Mike Matheny's option for 2014. The announcement was made Thursday morning by team President Bill DeWitt, Jr. at spring training camp in Jupiter, Florida.

KTRS Sports contributor Joe Strauss tweets that if Mozeliak serves out his term as GM, he and predecessor, Walt Jocketty, will have steered the club for 23 seasons.

Mozeliak, who is entering his sixth season as the team's general manager, had his contract extended through 2016.

During Mozeliak's tenure as GM, the Cardinals have won the 2011 World Series and they have been to the postseason three times, including the past two seasons.

The 2012 club, managed by Matheny, was one win away from a second consecutive National League pennant when it lost a three-games-to-one lead in the National League championship series to the San Francisco Giants.

 

The St Louis baseball Cardinals have extended General Manager John Mozeliak's contract through 2016 and picked up manager Mike Matheny's option for 2014. The announcement was made Thursday morning by team President Bill DeWitt, Jr. at spring training camp in Jupiter, Florida.

KTRS Sports contributor Joe Strauss tweets that if Mozeliak serves out his term as GM, he and predecessor, Walt Jocketty, will have steered the club for 23 seasons.

Mozeliak, who is entering his sixth season as the team's general manager, had his contract extended through 2016.

During Mozeliak's tenure as GM, the Cardinals have won the 2011 World Series and they have been to the postseason three times, including the past two seasons.

The 2012 club, managed by Matheny, was one win away from a second consecutive National League pennant when it lost a three-games-to-one lead in the National League championship series to the San Francisco Giants.