Jan. 29: The Cardinals have announced Wainwright’s return. There’s a full no-trade clause and up to $775K in award bonuses, Heyman tweets.
Jan. 28: The Cardinals are bringing back franchise icon Adam Wainwright on what’s “believed to be” a one-year deal worth $8MM, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets. Wainwright’s contract includes incentives, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The right-hander is a client of Aegis Sports Management.
This is the first true sign of life this offseason from the Cardinals, who have seen Wainwright, catcher Yadier Molina and second baseman Kolten Wong (after a declined option) hit free agency but haven’t done anything to upgrade their roster. Nevertheless, it’s no surprise the Cardinals are keeping Wainwright, a longtime member of the organization whom they’ve been connected to throughout the winter.
A Cardinal since his major league debut in 20o5, Wainwright is one of the most accomplished pitchers in their storied history. The three-time All-Star may not be the ace he was earlier during his time in the majors, but he remains a quality starter at this late stage of his career. As a 39-year-old in 2020, Wainwright turned in 65 2/3 innings over just 10 starts and recorded a 3.15 ERA/4.39 SIERA with a 20.6 percent strikeout rate and an above-average 5.7 percent walk rate. Among Cardinals starters, Wainwright easily ranked first in innings, outdoing Jack Flaherty by almost 25 full frames, and checked in behind Dakota Hudson and Kwang Hyun Kim in ERA.
Because he underwent Tommy John surgery in September, Hudson won’t be available for the Cardinals in 2021. That only increases Wainwright’s importance for the club, which will count on him, Flaherty and Kim to perform well near the top of their starting staff. Carlos Martinez and Miles Mikolas, who missed all of last season after undergoing right flexor tendon surgery, look as if they’ll fill out the Cardinals’ rotation at the beginning of the campaign. It doesn’t appear to be the safest group, but Wainwright should be one of its stabilizing forces.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Woo hoo, Waino!
Awesome, first signing of the season. Finally, Wainwright is back. Welcome back to the team. Now, Mozeliak re-sign Yadi.
Yeah, get Yadi signed yesterday please!!
Why resign Molina? Really. He had a great run but is a shell of who and what he once was.
“Yadier Molina is about winning and winning championships, period.” – Mike Shildt
Paying an old pitcher $8 million equals 160 nurse or teacher salaries. He can throw a pitch but can he save your life. Pathetic.
@nurse – You can see this about any professional athlete, not just an old pitcher. It’s a reflection of our nation’s priorities.
I think he kinda redeems himself….
From MLB Clemente Award nominees-
Adam Wainwright:
As great of an on-field impact that Wainwright has had in his 15 seasons with the Cardinals, the work he has done off the field is what he hopes will be his most lasting legacy. For the second consecutive year and the fifth time in his career, the veteran pitcher has been selected as the Cardinals’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award this season. Wainwright was selected in recognition of his charity work, which includes his foundation, Big League Impact, that he and his brother, Trey, founded in 2013. The foundation’s mission is to provide basic resources, including food, clean water, medical care and shelter, to those in need around the globe. Wainwright works with other MLB players to bring their charity aspirations to life, too.
And there is the first step toward a National League Championship for the Cardinals.
Ugh I picked retirement in the contest. I’m the worst and have never thought I’m a deserving winner of the prediction contest. 8 is the most I’ll get and I request mlb trade rumours that I be removed from the ballot.
I’m picking up on some Schilling-style sarcasm
Cardinals best be paying 8 million to Wainwright. Yadi gonna get 10-12 million per year
Did anyone else, other than the writer of the article know that Adam Wainwright made his MLB debut in 20o5? I thought it was in 2005. Reading is fundamental, so is proofreading one’s own work. Just saying…
Ya really. Damn them and this free fan site. We should demand more.
Why?? Why just say it bro nobody wants to hear it!!! We all saw it, 1000s of people read it, only you felt the need to point it out come on man….just saying
Ending your statement with a sentence fragment is poor grammar. Didn’t you proofread that before hitting submit?
That’s the grammatical error you choose to point out?
One down one to go.
Now to resign Yadi and Kolten, and maybe get Pederson
I loved Kolten, but I’m ready for a change. As good as he is defensively, we desperately need offense.
They aren’t going to add offense at 3B or OF so might as well keep Wong.
Schoop provides a different type of Offense than Wong.
So you think giving everyday ABs to Carpenter will increase the offense? Wong could at least get on base at a really good rate.
I think that you give someone else a shot at both positions. Can’t be as bad as carpenter has been.
That’s a whole lot of mediocrity
No on Pederson. I would prefer someone who K’s less. Perhaps a trade. Cards have a ton of money coming off after this season.
Please take Colin Moran from the Pirates! Pretty please! Pirates are looking at trying to get 10 wins this year. Moran and Polonco would fit the Cards needs…. joke.
nice payout at his age…and probably helps in bringing back Yadi
Yadi Yadi Yadi
You didn’t just Yadi Yadi Yadi Wainwright did you?
Old guys rule!
Take that, Padres!
Padres have 6 starters already….they weren’t gonna give Wainwright 8 mil.
They probably made him a much smaller offer to see if he would rather win a Championship….he chose the $.
He chose staying where he’s always been. For some players, especially someone who has spent their entire career in one place, that matters. Not many players get to do that. Wainwright has been a part of championship teams.
He was drafted by the Braves
He’s got a better chance at winning the division in St. Louis, which would be a better position in the playoffs than being a WC team like the Pads would be.
It would be more accurate to say “try” to win a championship.
A Cards signing! Happy for you guys.
Come on Yadi…
Thank you Eastcoast. You sound like a true baseball fan that enjoys what’s good for the game.
Always! Since about ‘88 or ‘89.
I live about an hour from where Matt Stairs grew up.
My first live game was In 1993 when Dad took me on an 11 hr train ride from New Brunswick to Montreal to watch the Expos play the Marlins. Expos were behind in the 9th & came back to win. El Presidente pitched. Larry Walker had a good game. Before the game they retired Gary Carter’s number on the outfield wall.
I was in heaven and Dad was horrified at all of the French kissing going on in the stands. Lol.
Baseball is special. Baseball is Life
Cool story. This is why BB will remain enduringly popular.
Excellent.
Great news for an offseason with none of it for the Cardinals, happy to have him back!
Hey, the Cards are finally on the board for this offseason, and in a good way too.
Can’t hurt. Might help. He’s the kind of player you want wearing your uniform ’til he’s ready to take it off.
Who says nobody is trying to win the central!
Genuinely surprised at $8m
Yeah. Less than Kluber. By $3M, too. I’d think he’d get at least $10-12M considering the way he pitched last year.
Actually 5 million with the ability to earn up to 8 if all of the incentives are met. Cards are a little cheap this off-season. Base salary less than half of Kluber. BTW I also have more faith in the 39 year old to shine this year even if Kluber might have the higher ceiling if everything goes right for him.
He’s as valuable as JA Happ.
Love this guy, not sure if he was considering anyone outside of St Louis but I’d welcome this guy to DC anytime. Good signing for the Cardinals.
I’m assuming his debut was 2005 and not 2015…
I was just saying the same thing.
Now it’s 20o5
Major league debut in 2015?
I’m totally shocked by this deal. The only thing more shocking would be if Yadi signs back with the Cards. No one would see that coming.
The Cardinal way!
A very fair deal for both sides. Good for Wainwright! Great price point for his services.
Was there ever any doubt?!
It says Wainwright debuted in 2015! No big deal obviously. Most people know he didn’t just show up 6 years ago at 33
Happy he resigned. Thought he’d actually get less salary. This could be it for Waino.
one year deal worth $5 mil, with extra $3 mil in incentives
Now go get Molina. I’d be excited right now, but with how slow the Cards have been, I need to see them get their package deal (Waino and Yadi) re-signed before I can be excited.
Awesome. I’m not even a Cardinals fan, but I want to see Waino and Yadi spend their whole careers there.
Kind of guy I would have liked to see heading my Phils rotation in 2021.
I love how the Cards are bringing back their franchise icon but the cubs couldn’t pony up a measly 5 million for their icon in Lester! Good move Cards!
U mean Red Sox icon ?
Lester is a Cubs icon? They signed him as a free agent. And he’s awful now.
Unfortunately Lesters gas tank ran empty last year. Waino was great last year outpitching much younger members of the starting staff.
I’m not a Cardinals fan, but Yadi better retire with fans in the stands and him wearing #4 in a cardinals jersey.
YAHOO! Now Yadi!!!
What else besides Yadi would Card fans like to see happen ?
Would Adam Frazier interest them ?
For me personally, I’d like to see them sign Rosario to help with offense
Make good on the Arenado rumors and finally land him
Now as long as Uncle Charlie comes along with Waino, everything will be awesome.
FINALLY! The Waino HAS COME BACK… to St. Louis! (in a Rock voice)
when did rocks have voices?
I think it started with Fantastic Four
Good resign. Especially at those dollars.
Congratulations Cards fans!
Half way there.
I think Yadi overplayed his hand this offseason. Where else is he going to sign now? Time to come back to reality and accept a one year deal. Maybe StL. can add in an option year with a decent buyout amount to make him happy but I don’t see him getting a full guaranteed two years at his age.
Cards should easily win the NLC, led by Flaherty winning the CY award.
20o5?
It’s about time lol… everyone knew this was eventually going to happen… or at least least hoped it. Even as a non-cardinals fan… just being a fan of baseball it’s good for everyone involved that they two sides finally worked something out. Not resigning him and forcing him to sign elsewhere just would have been disrespectful and to be blunt illogical… I mean he was one of their best pitchers last season and he’s still only set to make a maximum of $8M this year so that’s obviously a hometown discount given that similar pitchers have signed for $12-$15M elsewhere this offseason. Now they just need to sign Molina, granted that’s a little bit more complicated because he seems to want more $ and or years than he might actually be worth at this point. Wainwright at least is also still pitching like a front end of the rotation starter (at least in terms of bottom line results… ERA) Molina on the other hand has clearly declined a bit at the plate but given that it’s really only going to be a few million $ more than what he might actually be worth… they should just give it to him so that he can retire with the same team he’s played for his entire career. Having said that… I think he should back down from the 2-year demand… if he signs a 1 year contract and preforms well enough to warrant an additional 1-year deal next season then they can cross that bridge when they come to it. But at this point if it weren’t for his reputation I don’t really think there’d even be a possibility of a 2-year deal based on his recent production. So he should compromise and meet the team in the middle and then go from there next offseason if he puts up good enough numbers to warrant it.
About time. Yadi is almost certainly next
Wish he signed with my Padres but glad he re-signed with the Cards! Good job Cards. This was supposed to happen. Keep him in the fold and let him retire as a Card!
Cardinals in on Arenado yet again. Let’s make it happen this time around
Why? Arenado is over paid. Unless the Rockies eat close to one hundred million dollars he isn’t worth pursuing.
How is he overpaid he is number 1 or 2 3b in the game right now and when Springer got almost the same contract that Arenado has left and Springer is 1.5 years older
I am not sure if St. Louis got better with this signing. Sometimes you got to be able to walk away from the past. You can get away with keeping him because you are in the N.L. Central with the worst offenses in baseball. Outside of the Division, this guy is gonna get lit up …. again!
One year and $8 million for a franchise icon and a solid 5th starter is not going to set this team back by any means.
I tend to go by the mantra that there is no such thing as a bad 1-yr contract.
Couldn’t picture him in another uniform. Staying on one team is a rarity these days. Happy to see it.