[BigRedChief]

RASMUS OUT A MONTH

Cardinals center field prospect Colby Rasmus will miss upward of a month, including the Summer Olympics for Team USA, after suffering a Grade I strain of his left knee during Tuesday night's game for Class AAA Memphis.

Rasmus had an MRI in Memphis on Wednesday. The injury is not thought to require surgery, according to general manager John Mozeliak, but is serious enough to leave his availability for a September call-up in doubt.

Mozeliak previously played down Rasmus' chances of playing in St. Louis after appearing in the Olympics. However, Wednesday the Cardinals GM did not rule out the possibility "if he was healthy."
Rasmus was hitting .249 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs in 329 at-bats when he injured himself on a swing. Tuesday's mishap happened less than two weeks after Rasmus returned from a hip condition that landed him on the seven-day disabled list.

If Ramsus' Class AAA season is over, he managed one home run in 99 at-bats against lefthanded pitching but hit .308 overall beginning June 1.

Hurt by his surprise option, Rasmus, who turns 22 on Aug. 11, struggled to a .213 average in his first two months at Class AAA.

CARPENTER'S STATUS

Rehabbing ace Chris Carpenter speculated Wednesday that he would probably need two more minor-league appearances before being ready for prime time. But upon further review, Carpenter said he could envision the possibility of returning if he has an impressive outing Friday at Memphis.

"If I were to go down there and everything went well, it would give you something to think about," he said. "If they thought I could come up and help, sure, it's a possibility. I guess I wouldn't rule it out."

Carpenter worked four shutout innings for Class AA Springfield on Sunday night but admitted afterward that he labored to command his fastball, the most important indicator of his readiness beyond the condition of his surgically repaired right elbow. Carpenter walked four, struck out four, allowed one flared single and mixed only 31 strikes among 61 pitches.

Carpenter probably will graduate to 70-85 pitches Friday, setting up his next appearance for Wednesday — either for the Cardinals in Atlanta or more likely for Springfield at Arkansas.

SCOUTING BURNETT

The Cardinals were among the estimated 15 teams that assigned scouts to watch Toronto Blue Jays righthander A.J. Burnett's start Wednesday night against the Baltimore Orioles. The game held special significance to the Cardinals, who are among clubs pursuing Orioles lefthanded closer George Sherrill as well as Burnett.

Burnett enjoys partial no-trade protection that allows him to specify 15 teams to which he would accept a trade. The Cardinals are among those teams, according to a source familiar with his contract.

Though the Cardinals are reluctant to confirm interest in either pitcher, they remain intrigued by Burnett, whom they pursued as a free agent after the 2005 season.

Burnett's contract with the Blue Jays allows him to opt out of the last two seasons, a provision that gives the Cardinals pause. It is believed, however, that Burnett may be willing to renounce the opt-out in return for extending his current deal through the 2011 season.

The interest in Burnett comes while the Cardinals abstain from engaging representatives for pending free-agent pitchers Kyle Lohse and Braden Looper in talks about a possible extension