ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Motte faces reconstructive elbow surgery if his condition does not improve in the next three weeks or so.

It would be another huge blow to a team that already has lost pitcher Chris Carpenter and shortstop Rafael Furcal for the season. The Cardinals pretty much stood pat after losing to the San Francisco Giants in the NL championship series last fall.

Motte, who had a career-high 42 saves last season, has been shut down since late March because of a strained right elbow. He was not cleared to throw after an MRI exam Tuesday didn't show sufficient improvement.

General manager John Mozeliak said the team should have a good idea by early May whether the 30-year-old right-hander would be able to pitch this season.

"Surgery is definitely on the table if he's not throwing by then," Mozeliak said. "Rather than drag this thing out all summer, we put a soft deadline on it to find out."

The news comes a day after stand-in closer Mitchell Boggs was charged with six earned runs in one-third of an inning during Cincinnati's nine-run ninth. Other options include Fernando Salas, who led the team with 24 saves in 2011, and rookie setup man Trevor Rosenthal.

Motte signed a $12 million, two-year contract in January that avoided arbitration.

Mozeliak said he didn't anticipate Motte seeking a second opinion.

"Obviously, a player has that right, but I think he feels pretty confident with what he's hearing," the GM said.