JUPITER, Fla. — Although his team was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic earlier this week, St. Louis Cardinals lefty reliever Dennys Reyes will not report to spring training until Sunday for a handful of reasons he cleared with the team just this afternoon.

Reyes, signed to a two-year deal a couple weeks into spring training, requested a few days to address what GM John Mozeliak called a “personal matter.” Needing time to do that delayed Reyes ability to meet for his work visa. That meeting is now reschedule for Friday, and the lefty is expected in camp Sunday. Manager Tony La Russa said the day Reyes arrives he’ll throw a bullpen so the club can gauge where he is with his arm and how much work he needs before appearing in games.

The team also needs to perform a physical to complete the terms of his $3-million deal.

Mozeliak does not feel like the delay in Reyes’ arrival will hinder the lefty’s availability for the regular season.

Reyes made three appearances for Team Mexico in the WBC. He was knocked around in one outing and finished the tournament with seven runs allowed (six earned) in 1 2/3 innings pitched. He walked two and struck out one. Mexico was eliminated from the tournament Monday.

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