The St. Louis Cardinals found their new catcher last week, signing veteran Willson Contreras to a five-year, $87.5 million deal.
With Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols both gone, St. Louis was in need of a big bat and a catcher to replace the two departing stars.
One of those boxes has been checked, and one man in particular was excited about the news.
Contreras has already reached out to several members of the Cardinals pitching staff, including veteran ace Adam Wainwright, who he said was the first member of the team to reach out to his new catcher, calling him before the deal was even official.
The Willson Contreras contract includes a club option for 2028. Contreras says he’s already reached out to the pitching staff and Adam Wainwright was the first to call when the deal was “almost” official. #STLCards
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) December 9, 2022
Contreras Receives A Call From A Legend
Wainwright knows that things are going to be different without his longtime batterymate in Molina.
But that doesn’t mean he isn’t excited about having a new batterymate.
The elder statesman of the Cardinals is the last remaining holdover from the team’s World Series runs in 2006 and 2011.
Now, he and Contreras will be working together, with their first start together likely coming on Opening Day in 2023.
There’s no doubt that the 41-year-old right-hander is excited about the opportunity to pitch to Contreras, given that he called his new catcher before the contract was even finalized.
While Wainwright and Contreras likely won’t reach 329 starts together, like the veteran righty had with Molina, the two should form a solid battery.
Having Wainwright make the first call is also quite special.
The veteran ace will retire at the end of the 2023 season, but Contreras is locked up through at least the 2027 season, with a club option on his deal for 2028.
NEXT: Cardinals Show Off Their New Star Catcher