Burning questions for the Cardinals, part two: Will Waino be back?
His decision helps shape the bottom stack of the rotation.
This just in: Do not expect Cy Young-caliber Adam Wainwright in 2023.
By all means, he could blow us away again and make another career adjustment, extending his career and aiding the team. But he could be a solid #3 starter for this team a year later, and still be a huge help. What the Cardinals need to figure out is if he is returning. Father Time is still undefeated and finds every player soon enough. Wainwright is coming off a season where he was amazing for five months before a comebacker went off his knee in late August and stretched out his stride.
Wainwright has a lot of incentive to come back. A guy like him doesn’t ride off into the sunset after a departure like he had this year. He isn’t going to pick up the golf clubs and charity paperwork full time after failing to make a start in the playoffs, or even appear. Imagine telling him in the spring that he would have a good year and his team would reach the postseason, but falter due to a lack of hitting and he couldn’t do a thing about it. If I were him, that would piss me off enough to return.
The team still needs him, and I think he needs the Cards. When you fire off a 3.15, 3.05, and 3.71 ERA over three seasons as you go from 39-41 years of age, it’s not a time to step down. Wainwright identified the issue that plagued his 2022 fall. He’s not going to ask for the moon in his contract. The team can’t throw him $17.5 million in 2023, especially if they want to add other pieces.
A decision on Wainwright is needed due to the fact that without him, the rotation looks like this: Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Dakota Hudson, and Matthew Liberatore. Jose Quintana could be back too, but he’s a free agent. Without Wainwright and even with Quintana, the team might have to make a move at starter.
This could be overwhelming, but the free agent list for starters is vast, sexy, and multi-faceted. Check it out, via MLB.com:
Carlos Rodón (30 years old, 11.1 WAR) -- Can opt out
Aaron Nola (30, 10.7) -- Club option
Clayton Kershaw (35, 7.2)
Jacob deGrom (35, 7.1) -- Can opt out
Nathan Eovaldi (33, 6.7)
Adam Wainwright (41, 6.6)
Chris Bassitt (34, 6.3) -- Mutual option
Tyler Anderson (33, 6.1)
Justin Verlander (40, 6.1) -- Player option
Sonny Gray (33, 4.8) -- Club option
Kyle Gibson (34, 4.8)
Corey Kluber (37, 4.5)
Martín Pérez (31, 4.5)
Sean Manaea (31, 4.4)
José Quintana (33, 4.3)
Jameson Taillon (31, 4.2)
Taijuan Walker (29, 3.9) -- Player option
Chris Flexen (28, 3.7) -- Vesting option
Wade Miley (36, 3.5)
Zach Eflin (29, 3.5) -- Mutual option
Rich Hill (42, 3.4)
Ross Stripling (33, 3.4)
Zack Greinke (38, 3.1)
Michael Wacha (30, 2.6)
Carlos Carrasco (36, 2.4) -- Vesting option
Jake Odorizzi (33, 2.4) -- Player option
Andrew Heaney (31, 2.2)
Noah Syndergaard (30, 2.2)
Mike Minor (35, 1.9) -- Club option
Trevor Williams (30, 1.8)
Luis Severino (29, 1.6) -- Club option
Jordan Lyles (31, 1.6) -- Club option
Drew Smyly (33, 1.6) -- Mutual option
Matthew Boyd (32, 1.5)
Joe Ross (29, 1.4)
Michael Lorenzen (31, 1.3)
José Ureña (31, 1.1)
Chris Sale (34, 1.0) -- Can opt out
Michael Pineda (33, 0.9)
Dylan Bundy (29, 0.7) -- Club option
Chris Archer (33, 0.7) -- Mutual option
Aaron Sanchez (30, 0.6)
Carlos Martinez (30, 0.6)
Zach Davies (30, 0.5) -- Mutual option
Mike Clevinger (32, 0.4)
Chad Kuhl (29, 0.4)
Dallas Keuchel (35, 0.3) -- Vesting option
James Paxton (33, 0.0) -- Club option
Chase Anderson (35, -0.2)
Mike Foltynewicz (30, -0.7)
Kohei Arihara (30, -0.9)
A lot of players on that list excite, arouse, and generally frighten me. Rodon, Nola, Verlander, Kershaw, Eovaldi, Gray, and a few others are no-brainers, even if they are unlikely. The likely thing happening is the Cards retaining Waino and Quintana, and riding into 2023 with a set rotation. Hudson can kick rocks, be gone in a trade, or move to the bullpen. There’s no time for slow-working pitchers who badly depend on a single pitch.
Come back, Wainwright. Finish it right. That’s what I think happens. But if he doesn’t and decides to retire, it gets very, very interesting. Stay tuned for Part 3 tomorrow, which could take us to the outfield.
Owners have lots of money because of Albert, a good season though it hurts me to say-due to Mozeliak and fans flocking to ballpark and buying every Molina and Pujos item for sale.
I would ditch Flaherty in a minute, sign Quintana and show Hudson the exit. If Wainwright wants to come back for a reasonable cost and/or incentive laden contract, okay.
Again it hurts me to say, but sign Contreras though I am not in love with his defense.
Also, Oli needs to put on his big boy manager pants. He was completely out managed in the playoffs and in putting Hensley into the last regular season game and then keeping him in after he was clearly hurt. And in surrendering the game by taking Pujos and Molina out of game two early, maybe he did not realize it was a three game series. Probably at the direction of Mozeliak who thinks he is a baseball man.
A terrible postseason ending for Molina and Pujos who have earned an honorable exit with a playoff run.