It was a somber scene in the St. Louis Cardinals clubhouse on Saturday night after their 2-0 season-ending loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Not only was the season over, but so too were the legendary careers of Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.
As the Cards said goodbye to the two franchise legends, the media approached another team icon in veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright, who many have speculated may retire as well.
After dealing with a “dead arm” for much of September and posting uncharacteristic results, Wainwright was not used in the Wild Card Series.
Reporters asked Wainwright if he too would be retiring or if he would come back in 2023.
He had this to say.
Waino on if he plans to return next season: "Never can tell. I'll tell you this, I don't like not pitching in a playoff series. You can take that one of two ways, you can take that as it's been a good run or you can take that as motivation to never let that happen again." pic.twitter.com/treDfq0usi
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) October 9, 2022
Waino’s Future Uncertain
It’s the end of an era in St. Louis.
Nobody is sure yet what Wainwright will decide to do.
But even if he comes back, things won’t be the same without his star batterymate behind home plate.
This year, he and Molina broke the all-time wins record for a battery and the all-time starts record, respectively.
He, Pujols, and Molina were together for two World Series championship runs in 2006 and 2011.
Now, at least two of the three are gone, with the future being uncertain for Wainwright.
Cardinals fans would love nothing more than to have Wainwright back for one more run.
But this might be it for him as well.
If it is the end, he, like Pujols and Molina, left a lasting impact on the Cardinals and the city of St. Louis.
He closed out the NLCS and World Series in 2006, broke some records with Molina, and was one of the Cards’ most reliable postseason starters.
He’s just as irreplaceable as his fellow Cardinals legends, and if he ultimately does retire, then things are going to be a lot different in St. Louis next year.
NEXT: Albert Pujols Reveals When He Nearly Walked Away In 2022