With their Wild Card round elimination at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies, Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina retiring, and half of the coaching staff not returning in 2023, St. Louis Cardinals fans definitely needed some good news to get through the week.
They definitely got them on Wednesday.
“Adam Wainwright will return for his 19th season with the #STLCards in 2023,” the team tweeted on Wednesday afternoon, a few hours after St. Louis media had reported the news.
Adam Wainwright will return for his 19th season with the #STLCards in 2023. pic.twitter.com/lTJW5VFnCZ
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) October 26, 2022
Wainwright’s deal is up after the World Series, so there will need to be new contractual terms announced.
That seems to be a formality, or there should be an agreement in principle already: otherwise the club probably wouldn’t have tweeted it.
The veteran right-hander, winner of two World Series in 2006 and 2011, is already 41 but keeps pitching at a high level.
Incredible Production At An Advanced Age
He had a rock-solid 3.71 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and a 143/54 K/BB ratio across 191.2 innings (32 starts) during the 2022 regular season.
He suffered a knee injury that affected his performance, because he had a 3.09 ERA after 26 starts.
If he is fully healthy, Wainwright can still be a mid-3.00s ERA guy and contribute between 170 and 190 innings in 2023.
That is extremely valuable and represents mid-rotation production, which is at a premium these days.
Loyalty, however, is priceless, and he is as loyal as they get.
Wainwright has pitched his entire 18-year MLB career with the Cardinals uniform, and that won’t be changing anytime soon.
His longevity is amazing, but his loyalty may be his most impressive trait.
He may not be a Hall of Famer, but the Cardinals will surely elevate him to their own Hall once his playing days are over.
NEXT: Cardinals Fan Has The Perfect 2023 Idea