The Cardinals have made offers to re-sign both Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright, team chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said during an interview as part of the Cards’ “Winter Warm-Up” event (done in virtual fashion this year). Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides added details on these offers, noting that both Molina and Wainwright were offered less guaranteed money than they were supposed to earn in 2020, prior to the pandemic-induced prorated salary cuts.
This isn’t a surprise in Molina’s case, as his offensive downturn in recent years was naturally expected to result in a new salary worth substantially less than the $20MM average annual salary on his previous contract. Wainwright’s one-year deal for the 2020 season, however, paid him $5MM, and it certainly seemed plausible that Wainwright would top that more modest sum in his next deal.
Though Wainwright turned 39 last August, he has still looked like an effective big league arm, tossing 171 2/3 innings in 2019 and posting a 3.15 ERA over 65 2/3 frames in the shortened 2020 season. Overall, Wainwright has a 3.91 ERA, 20.6K%, and 12.7K-BB% over 237 1/3 innings since the start of the 2019 campaign.
MLBTR projected Wainwright for a one-year, $6MM pact, with the raise reflecting his solid work in helping carry the Cardinals’ rotation while the roster was ravaged by a COVID-19 outbreak. If the Cards aren’t willing to hit even the $5MM threshold in guaranteed money, it could increase the chances of Wainwright pitching elsewhere in 2021, and changing teams for the first time in his career. The veteran told ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers that he had “recently” fielded offers from multiple teams, so it would appear as thought Wainwright has options if he indeed isn’t satisfied with what the Cardinals have put on the table.
Molina has also recently indicated that he could move on from both St. Louis, and even from his playing career altogether if he doesn’t find an acceptable offer. Molina has been known to be looking for a two-year deal, which could be difficult given his age (38), his aforementioned dropoff at the plate, and the fact that several teams looking for catching help this winter have made other acquisitions at the position.
Of course, there is still plenty of time for either or both of Molina and Wainwright to come to an agreement with the Cardinals. As Rogers notes, “industry executives” still feel that the two players will ultimately return to St. Louis, and both players have also repeatedly stated that their first choice is to play at least another season in Cardinal red.
Not likely.. but, I would love to see that combo in DET.
Why, you might ask?
Leadership and guidance for the young guys.
Can we get this over and re-sign Yadi and Wainwright? They are vital players for the franchise. The Cardinals has been quiet this offseason and both players deserve to come back and finish their career in St Louis.
It would be…melancholy, as a MLB fan, not to see these two retire as Cardinals.
I doubt that any team in their current financial state will pay these guys what they want. Cards have the ties to these guys, whereas other teams are not going to go out on a limb, especially this year, to sign them for their desired amounts.
I agree.. but, I also dream… : j
I don’t know if a two year deal for Yadi is unreasonable, but it depends on what type of AAV he is looking for. 6-8m spread out over 2 years seems fair.
Yadi wouldn’t, and shouldn’t sign for 3-4 million a year. 1 year 8 million with team option for same number would be fair, If he declines enough for them to not want to pay him next year, he would probably walk away anyway. He’s a pretty proud player and has already said he could walk away with no regrets. 2 guaranteed years for a catcher at his age is a risk, no matter how sentimental you are.
He didn’t even post a full WAR last season, so 8 million seems a bit steep. Granted it’s tough to evaluate anything off of the wacky 2020. I’m not a Cards fan, so I’ve got no skin in the game- but I’ve seen some angst over his performance.
3-4m a year is about what Pierzynksi got at the tail of his career, which is sorta what Yadi seems comparable to now. Maybe you’re right, and he is too proud to accept that and would walk away? Can’t fault him for that. If you’re a Cards fan, you’d know better than I. The Cardinals would be foolish to give him more though.
Figure he started 1/3 the number of games last year that he normally would.
Bwar. 3 fwar. 5 that’s a 0.9 – 1.5 range over 120 starts. You add to that what he does for the pitchers on the other end of things…
Then there’s the bat. 3 of the past 4 seasons it’s been slightly below average… but he’s a catcher. You don’t usually expect a ton from guys like that.
If I was the cardinals I’d give him the Ortiz treatment as a team icon. 1yr deal with a PAIR of vesting options. Go 7m/7m/5m. He keeps producing, he keeps getting paid. Contract auto renews if the milestone is hit. You can debate what the milestone should be, buy maybe total plate appearances or some such
WAR for catchers is basically an irrelevant stat. It doesn’t work.
He previously said the Cards offer of $10M a year was an insult. Good luck.
Ideally they re-sign Waino and leave Yadi in the dust.
i wouldnt trust Waino at this point in his career. 2020 was good but his numbers the previous few years were mediocre at best.
Weird, that’s exactly what I think of when Bauer comes to mind.
Fwiw, I’ll gladly take 6 “ Wainos” and his $6m, over 1 Bauer ANYDAY.
Wainwright/Red Sox!!!!! Let’s go Bloom!!!
Wainwright good 5th starter fit for WSox while Kopech is preserved in AAA a couple months. Also as insurance if Keuchel’s back nags him like it did this past season.
wainwright changing team wouldn’t be his first change. people forget he was drafted by atlanta and pitched 4 seasons in the minors.
It does kinda crack me up that teams drag their feet on re-signing fan favorites. Their best years are behind them for sure, but if they want to come back on a cheap deal, what’s the harm? Bah just do it
You get to play baseball and they pay you money. Quit being a big baby and sign already. This is why I hate baseball sometimes. I guess I got spoiled by Varitek and Wakefield. Oh well.
Yadi would be a good backup in Atlanta
I guarantee you Yadi won’t be a backup for anyone. He’s still better than most if not still the best ever.
They need to sign them both as they Would be some of the very few bright spots in what is going to be a dismal season. They are the faces of this franchise, and they deserve the respect at the end of their careers.
Waino had a base deal for $5MM in 2020 but I think he earned much of the additional $5MM based on incentives. He was paid $2MM in 2019 but earned another $6MM on bonuses. So I’d imagine the 2021 contract would be structured similarly. As should any offer to Yadi – but it would not be 2 years out of the gate.
https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/cardinals-agree-deal-adam-wainwright-2020-season-66945481
Sorry – he earned another $8MM in bonuses in 2019 = total of $10MM. On his 2020 contract, my guess is he earned the pro-rated $10MM.
Yanks could use both these guys if they could shed a little salary
I’d like to see the Dodgers trade Austin Barnes or play Will Smith at 3rd against lefties and Barnes a sub at 2nd and Catcher.
Then they could sign Molina on a 1 year deal, and let him show Smith and Ruiz how to handle a pitching staff.
I think he’s worth at least $10 million/ 1 year as a player/coach.
They could always go play for the White Sox and Tony Larussa again. Right down the road basically.
It seems like it will be impossible for these guys to get their golden parachutes in a second COVID impacted season. I hope they stay healthy for their farewell tour with the Redbirds.
I hear the Blue Jays are the sleeper.
The Blue Jays hear that they are in on Wainwright. Molina is trying to tell people -2 the Blue Jays are in on him too. I think it is just the echo from the Yates signing.
There is absolutely no reason we haven’t signed Wainwright yet. Even if you bump him up form 5 to 6 mil. That’s still a massive bargain. I will still stand firm with Yadi. Yes I definitely want him to play here and only here till he retires. He will also have to take a major paycut. Not only has his skill diminished, but it would block yet another prospect from moving up. He has even stated he may just straight up retire. Which sound to me.like the.other “interested teams” are not offering much either.
Something’s just wrong with a front office that’s got itself in a situation whereby they’re forced to retain the services of Fowler and Carpenter yet possibly lose Yadi & Waino, both Cardinal lifers. For even should they wear another uni for awhile (please – say it ain’t so, Mo), will return to the organization in some capacity once their playing days are over.
Thats what ive been saying for the longest!! Mo is the only person responsible for the situation we have now… How tf is it that crap like Fowler and Crapenter are on this team and Molina and Waino are not!!!??? Fire Mo!!!
What if the Cardinals would sign Wainwright and Molina for two more years. Then in a year Pujols contract with the Angels would be up and the Cardinals could sign him for a one year goodbye tour. He could DH and then Waino, Molina, and Pujols could all retire as Cardinals.
ughhh Pujols been done 5 years ago!