JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus tried all winter to avoid surgery on his right shoulder and yet the pain would not disappear.

So after rest, rehab, tests and injections, Glaus decided arthroscopic surgery was needed. He arrived at spring training today convinced the decision was the best for his career.

Glaus' shoulder was cleaned out and a slight muscle tear was repaired. "The fact they didn't have to put anything back together or reattach anything was fantastic," he said.

The procedure was done Jan. 21, and Glaus still cannot throw or hit. The Cardinals were told he could return sometime late in April, and manager Tony La Russa is being cautious.

"If he's back by the first of May, we're in great shape," La Russa said.

Glaus batted .270 with 27 home runs and 99 RBIs in 2008, his first season in St. Louis. His .982 fielding percentage led all major league third basemen and established a Cardinals team record for the position.

The 32-year-old Glaus said he started feeling discomfort late last season, which led to two cortisone shots and his missing five consecutive games in mid-September. The pain then returned in December during workouts.

When MRI exams showed no significant problems, Glaus was told to rest. When the pain persisted, he had another cortisone shot. Finally, surgery was recommended.

"I wasn't eager to have surgery," he said. "We all thought the rest would make everything feel better and when it didn't we had to go through the proper channels to make it feel better."

The Cardinals are looking at a group of players including David Freese, Brian Barden, Brett Wallace and Joe Thurston as the short-term replacement for Glaus.

"I think our attitude is pretty much, we're going to get back Troy with a lot of season left, so we're looking at covering when he's gone and then complementing when he's here," La Russa said.