"Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday will not be cleared for any physical activities for another several days as he recovers from an emergency appendectomy, but he plans to stay off the disabled list if at all possible.

"I told them I would like to not go on the DL," Holliday said Monday afternoon in his first public comments since having surgery to remove his appendix Friday. "I can play in 15 days, if they can do without me for a few games."

The Cardinals have not made a call on whether they plan to make a roster move. GM John Mozeliak and manager Tony La Russa have agreed to wait until Tuesday, at the latest, to determine whether they could go without Holliday for another week or if another player is needed. To make room on the roster, Holliday would have to go on the 15-day disabled list.

The dilemma for the Cardinals is whether or not four games or so of Holliday is worth going two full series with a 24-man roster.

The left fielder said he cannot engage in activities until the stitches heal from the three incisions used to remove his appendix.

Holliday said had been dealing with a pain in his stomach for at least a week. He believed that it was a virus. But with an off day Friday he decided to visit a doctor and have it checked "in case it was appendicitis."

Holliday met with the doctor at around 9 a.m. Friday."