With the St. Louis Cardinals already eliminated from the postseason after just two games in the NL Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the careers of Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina have come to an end.
But one Cardinals legend may not be done just yet.
Staff ace Adam Wainwright, who had an uncharacteristically bad month of September, has left it up in the air as to whether he’ll retire or come back in 2023.
Wainwright did not pitch in either of the two games of the Wild Card Series.
But Katie Woo, who covers the Cardinals for The Athletic, seems to think that “Waino” will be back in 2023.
Nobody knows what the future holds for Adam Wainwright, but #STLCards insider @katiejwoo thinks he still has something left in the tank. Will he be back with the Cardinals in 2023? #BKandFerrario
PODCAST: https://t.co/uPqcP9XG7u pic.twitter.com/Cc0iFzW4Hr
— 101 ESPN St. Louis (@101espn) October 11, 2022
Will Waino Return In ’23?
Woo’s rationale behind her claim is that Wainwright “left too much on the table” and that she didn’t think he would want to retire after such an ugly finish to the 2022 season.
Wainwright is widely known for being a fierce competitor who likes to take the ball in big games.
After all, he’s closed out four postseason series, including the NLCS and World Series in 2006.
So naturally, he’s grown accustomed to pitching in big games.
But if he were to come back, the announcement would be music to Cardinals fans’ ears, who would much rather see him walk away on a good note.
With Pujols and Molina both gone, Wainwright would be the last holdover from the Cardinals championship runs in 2006 and 2011.
After a disastrous September, Wainwright finished the season with an 11-12 record and a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts.
His future is still uncertain at this point, but the popular consensus seems to be that he will return in 2023, even with his longtime batterymate in Molina having already retired.
NEXT: Adam Wainwright Opens Up About His Late-Season Struggles