Tudor Expected to Call It Quits

John Tudor, the St. Louis Cardinals’ left-hander facing shoulder surgery and retirement, says he does not plan to play next year.

“I’ve got cartilage tears in both the front and back of the shoulder,” said Tudor, who is expected to retire.

Tudor, 36, leads the Cardinals’ staff with a 12-4 record and 2.40 earned-run average in a successful comeback from an injury-plagued 1989. In 1989, he was limited to 14 1/3 innings with the Dodgers.

Tudor has pitched in constant pain and asked last month to be moved to the bullpen to see whether that would help.

Tudor is eligible for free agency after the season “but it doesn’t really matter,” he said. “I don’t have any intention of playing next year anyway.”