March 20, 2008
Locking Up the Next Ace
The St. Louis Cardinals are on the verge of reaching a deal with Adam Wainwright:
For several weeks the Cardinals and Wainwright's representative have been discussing the framework of a multiple-year deal, and they continued to negotiate after the team unilaterally renewed his contract for the 2008 season. The guaranteed part of the new contract is four years and expected to be worth around $15 million, and it will buy out Wainwright's arbitration years, through 2011. The deal has an option that would cover the first two years of his free agency, sources said.
Good for Adam and the Cardinals. Like the Pirates, the Cardinals decided who was the best pitcher on their team right now and locked him in to avoid arbitration. If Carpenter can get healthy, the two will make a nice front of the rotation.