Wainwright staying a Cardinal

The St. Louis Cardinals and starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, have agreed to a five-year deal, that's worth $97.5 million. Wainwright could have been a free agent after the 2013 season, he could have made more money on the free agent market, know how crazy the free agent market is now days for starting pitchers and top free agents, instead his contract will expire after the 2018 season. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 MLB draft, he went in the first round, and overall was pick no.29. In December 2003, the Braves traded Wainwright to the Cardinals with starting pitcher Jason Marquis, and relief pitcher Ray King for outfielder J.D. Drew, and  outfielder Eli Marrero.

Wainwright ended up spending only two seasons in the Cardinals minors, and reaching the MLB in 2005. His major league debut was on September 11, 2005 against the New York Mets.

After having been a starting pitcher through out his entire minor league career, Wainwright made the Cardinals Opening Day roster in 2006, as a relief pitcher. He hit his first MLB career home run on May 24, 2006 against San Francisco Giants pitcher Noah Lowry, that came in his first career at bat in the MLB. That marked the 22nd time a MLB player hit his first career home run, off of the first pitch that he saw thrown to him. It also made Wainwright the 11th National League player to accomplish it. Later on in 2006, Wainwright would end up becoming the Cardinals closer, after Jason Isringhausen had to have season ending hip surgery. He ended up getting three saves in five save opportunities. In the playoffs, he'd come up big getting four saves in five opportunities. Wainwright closed out the final game against the San Diego Padres in the NLDS (National League Division Series), the final game of the NLCS (National League Championship Series) against the New York Mets, and then striking out Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge in game 5 of the World Series. The last out in the NLCS may have been the best one. He was facing batter Carlos Beltran (now currently a teammate of Wainwright's) with two outs and the bases loaded. Beltran would end up seeing a nasty curveball, and struck out looking at it.

Wainwright would become a full-time starting pitcher in the MLB in 2007, going 14-12 with an era of 3.70 and pitching 202 innings and starting 32 games. Wainwright later ended up becoming an All-Star in 2010, and also winning a gold glove in 2009.  In 2009, he went 19-8 with an era of 2.63, starting 34 games and striking-out 212 batters, and pitched 233 innings. Wainwright would then win 20 games in 2010 going 20-11 with an era of 2.42, starting 33 games, striking-out 213 batters, and pitched 230.1 innings.

So far, Wainwright has pitched seven seasons in his career, he missed all of 2011 with Tommy John surgery. His career stats for his seven year career as of now are: 80 wins, 48 losses, era 3.15, 1073 innings pitched, 908 strikeouts, 151 games started, has pitched in 214 games, and a whip of 1.21.

It's a great signing for the Cardinals, and keeps their ace around longer also. So the Cardinals won't need to work about him now, and with other young starting pitchers in the Cardinals minor working their way up to the MLB. One of the most recently ones to reach the MLB is the Cardinals no.5 starting pitcher Shelby Miller, and hopefully more on the way in the future. Having Wainwright around should help lead the Cardinals starting rotation, while others adjust to the MLB. Well done by the Cardinals at making sure Wainwright got signed before the season started.

I also wonder if the Braves regret trading Adam Wainwright at all, even when he grew up a Braves fan. I know former Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz had told the Braves not to trade Wainwright. Smoltz was right, even though Wainwright was the key that sent the Braves J.D. Drew.