St. Louis ? St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen had surgery on his right shoulder Thursday that could limit his availability early next season.

Team doctor George Paletta said the operation was a “cleanup” of the shoulder. During the procedure, a small tear was discovered in the labrum, which lines the shoulder socket, but Paletta said the rotator cuff was sound.

Isringhausen had 32 saves and a 2.48 ERA for the NL Central champions. But down the stretch, he was unable to pitch on consecutive days, it took him longer to get loosened up in the bullpen and he couldn’t warm up multiple times during a game.

Isringhausen also was sidelined twice during the second half of the season.

He will wear a sling for two-to-four weeks and probably will need to catch up when spring training begins.

“He’ll probably be a little behind schedule when we get to spring training,” team spokesman Brian Bartow said. “But we’re still hopeful he will be available opening day or thereabouts.”

Bartow said Isringhausen may pitch on a limited basis early in the season.

The 30-year-old Isringhausen was the third Cardinals player to have surgery since the end of the season. Right fielder J.D. Drew had surgery to repair tendinitis in his right knee and is not expected to fully recover until May at the earliest. First baseman Ivan Cruz also had knee surgery.

The team doesn’t think third baseman Scott Rolen will need surgery for sprained ligaments in his left shoulder. Rolen was injured in Game 2 of the Cardinals’ sweep of the Diamondbacks in the Division Series and did not play in the National League championship series, although he was on the roster.

St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jason Isringhausen underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Thursday.