Adam Wainwright was scheduled to start Opening Day for the St. Louis Cardinals next week against the Toronto Blue Jays.
However, those plans have been foiled.
On Thursday, it was announced that the 41-year-old would begin the 2023 season on the injured list after suffering a groin strain in the World Baseball Classic.
He is expected to miss a significant portion of time.
With the two-time World Series champion on the shelf, the Cardinals have a spot in the rotation open for either Jake Woodford or Andre Pallante.
On Twitter, one Cardinals fan commented on the injury and discussed how their lack of pitching additions this winter has come back to haunt them.
Adam Wainwright will begin the season on the IL and could be out “several weeks”, according to manager Oli Marmol. Wainwright injured his groin in the weight room. This injury brings the #STLCards lack of pitching depth, and the lack of any additions in the offseason into focus. pic.twitter.com/eX9LH436PO
— Under The Arch Sports (@_UTASports) March 23, 2023
The Cardinals brought Wainwright back on a one-year, $17.5 million contract at the end of the 2022 season.
However, that was the only major pitching addition they would make, save for Andrew Suarez, who joined the team on a minor league deal.
Suarez could be a candidate to start at various points this season, but the Cardinals had every opportunity to address an issue that has plagued them for over a decade.
Each year since 2011, the Cardinals have had a starting pitcher go down in spring training or early in the season.
While starters such as Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, and Carlos Rodon were not on their radar, cheaper options such as Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Wacha, and Noah Syndergaard were available.
St. Louis passed on all three of them.
For now, Woodford appears to be the favorite to take Wainwright’s spot, but a trade for a starting pitcher could be in their future.
NEXT: MLB World Reacts To Today's Adam Wainwright News
