Johan Santana was supposed to make his spring debut today against the Cardinals, but he was bumped from that start on Wednesday because of a little soreness and tightness in his elbow.

The plan was that we would be shipped until his next scheduled start on Tuesday, but now several sources have confirmed that he will not make that start either.

David Lennon writes:

Johan Santana already had been scratched from today’s start against Italy because of tightness in his left elbow and now it appears that he will be skipped from his scheduled turn Tuesday. Jerry Manuel said he wants to be “extra, extra, extra cautious” with Santana and there’s no need to bring him back Tuesday.

“Just because it’s so early,” Manuel said. “That’s my ace. That’s my card I’ve got to play when I need to play it. I don’t need to play it right now.”

Manuel is thinking that Santana might just need another day or two — not skip an entire turn through the rotation. When asked directly, Manuel said that Santana is not on a plane to New York for an MRI and there are no plans to do so at the moment.

“I’m not concerned,” Manuel said. “But I want to be extra, extra, extra cautious with this.”

I’m still not worried, and I don’t blame the Mets for being extra, extra, extra, extra cautious with Santana. But, my palms are getting a little sweaty now….