MLB.com's Matthew Leach reports that Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan is merely "taking a leave of absence," not stepping down from his post for good. Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported earlier that Duncan was resigning, but the Cardinals released a statement late Thursday night clarifying that the longtime pitching coach has simply "asked to take a leave of absence to attend to his wife Jeanine as she continues her treatment and rehabilitation (from August brain surgery)." More details should emerge Friday morning. The Cardinals will likely have bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist fill the vacancy for the time being.

Adam Wainwright (elbow) is one month into his offseason throwing program. Wainwright, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, has progressed from light throws to complete side sessions from flat ground. He threw 30 pitches to a catcher on Monday and then made 50 throws from 110 feet on Tuesday, even mixing in a curveball. "Being ahead was the plan all along, and while I don't think this has been the perfect rehab it has been pretty stinking close," said Wainwright. "They want me to test it. That (ligament) is stronger than the day I was born. It's double tight. I think at some point you just have to let go of the reins and just pitch." Wainwright is expected to begin throwing off a mound within a few weeks and will arrive in Florida more than a month ahead of when spring training begins.

Cardinals exercised RHP Adam Wainwright's options for 2012 and 2013. It was never really in doubt. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak announced his intent to pick up the options earlier this summer, but the move was made official during the team's postseason run. Wainwright, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, will earn $9 million next season and $12 million in 2013. The 30-year-old right-hander recently stopped throwing for a week due to scar tissue in his elbow, but played catch Wednesday and is scheduled to do so again Thursday. Barring any setbacks, he should be ready for the start of spring training.

Adam Wainwright (elbow) told R.B. Fallstrom of the Associated Press that he tried to talk the Cardinals into adding him to the postseason roster. Not a big surprise, as Wainwright hinted a couple months ago that he had a goal of getting ready for a possible playoff berth. But, it's also no surprise that the request was emphatically denied, as the Cards have no intention of rushing Waino back from Tommy John surgery. The good news is that the right-hander has been throwing twice a week for a couple months and says "things are going great." He expects to be fully healthy by spring training.

Adam Wainwright (elbow) threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Monday at Houston's Minute Maid Park. It was the fourth bullpen session of Wainwright's rehab program, and went just as smoothly as the others. As long as he can avoid setbacks, the 30-year-old Cardinals ace should be on pace with the rest of St. Louis starters heading into spring training.

Adam Wainwright (elbow) is scheduled to throw the fourth bullpen session of his rehab program Monday. In his third session Thursday, Wainwright threw two sets of 20 pitches, the first time he's taken a break between pitch blocks in order to simulate innings. He will increase intensity and pitch count in the coming weeks and could be about a month away from throwing breaking pitches, though it's no guarantee he'll do the latter prior to taking off November and December before resuming his normal throwing program in January.

Adam Wainwright (elbow) tossed the equivalent of two innings in a bullpen session Thursday. "This was my third throwing session off the mound [to a crouched catcher]," said Wainwright, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery. "The first two times we did one set of 30. This one we're kind of progressing, now we're doing two sets of 20. So the up-down, but you're also adding some throws in there." Wainwright only threw fastballs on Thursday, but plans to eventually work in his changeup. He will take off November and December before resuming his normal throwing program in January. As of now, his status for the start of the 2012 season looks promising.

Adam Wainwright (elbow) will make his first roadtrip of the season this week. Wainwright has begun playing regular games of catch and is no longer confined to certain rehab facilities. The ace right-hander has made a smooth recovery from Tommy John surgery thus far and should be ready to rock heading into spring training next season. The Cardinals are on their way to Milwaukee for a three-game series.

The Cardinals announced Thursday night that they will pick up Adam Wainwright's two-year, $21 million option, barring something unforeseen in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Wainwright wasn't going anywhere, but there was a chance the Cards would negotiate a longer deal with him. However, given that he's currently coming back from surgery, the most prudent thing -- probably for both sides -- was to just exercise the option. He recently received clearance to throw from 120 feet on flat ground and is also able to lift 60-pound weights. "To date he has had a very, very good rehab. I'm knocking on wood as we speak," GM John Mozeliak said. Wainwright is expect to be 100 percent heading into spring training.

Adam Wainwright (elbow) made 50 throws at a distance of 120 feet on Monday afternoon. Wainwright is aiming to step atop a mound by early September. He's been on the disabled list all season due to February Tommy John surgery and is not expected to be back at 100 percent health until the start of spring training next year. The Cardinals are likely to pick up his 2012 and 2013 options, worth $9 million and $12 million respectively.