Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak conceded Wednesday that Chris Carpenter's current neck issue appears similar to the nerve-related condition that he has dealt with in previous seasons. The Cardinals recently expressed relief that Carpenter didn't have nerve damage after he was diagnosed with a bulging cervical disc, but it's clear that the issue is more serious than initially believed. The 36-year-old right-hander previously dealt with nerve issues in 2004, 2008 and 2010. He consulted Wednesday with the specialists he visited following the 2008 season, but the option of surgery was rejected. It's not clear what the next step will be, but he's highly unlikely to be ready for the early part of the season. Lance Lynn will take his spot in the rotation for now.