"Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals' ace, projected opening-day starter and two-time Cy Young Award contender, will receive a second opinion today after an initial exam found enough damage to a ligament near his right elbow to suggest surgery that would put him out for this season and a large part of 2012.

The injury is believed related to a forearm issue that led to Wainwright being sidelined after he gained his 20th win last September and, according to general manager John Mozeliak, may be traced to ligament problems in 1998 and 2004.

Ligament replacement (Tommy John surgery) would cost the 29-year-old Wainwright this season and probably a significant portion of 2012. It could also make him a free agent because if he were on the disabled list with an arm injury at the end of 2011, the Cardinals could nullify his recent contract option for 2012-13.

"You prepare for the worst and hope for the best. That's about all there is to say," Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said Wednesday after he and fellow owner Fred Hanser were briefed in the parking lot of Roger Dean Stadium.

Frequently sanguine about injuries, the Cardinals and general manager John Mozeliak made no attempt to hide the situation's potential gravity.

Mozeliak conceded that "things do not look encouraging" and called Wainwright's condition "a significant injury." Manager Tony La Russa called it "a huge hit."

Cardinals medical supervisor Dr. George Paletta forwarded Wainwright's MRI to Dr. Lewis Yocum, an Orange County, Calif., orthopedist, late Wednesday. After consulting with Paletta, Mozeliak stopped short of predicting surgery but said he had heard nothing to alter his earlier pessimism.

Wainwright apparently suffered additional damage to his right ulnar collateral ligament Monday while throwing live batting practice. He awoke from a nap later in the day experiencing discomfort and contacted team trainers that night.

Mozeliak said the pitcher felt a tug on one of his final offerings but offered no complaint as he left the field. Pitching coach Dave Duncan saw nothing unusual and thought Wainwright sharp for so early in camp.

Wainwright was second in the National League last season with 20 wins, trailing only the Phillies' Roy Halladay. With 230 1/3 innings, he was third behind Halladay and Cardinals teammate Chris Carpenter while constructing a career-best 2.42 ERA. He reached those totals despite skipping his final start after experiencing discomfort near the elbow. Diagnosed with a forearm strain, Wainwright was prescribed rest and rehab."