Now two years removed from Tommy John surgery, St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright could be headed for his final season with the Redbirds in 2013. The 31-year-old has one more year and $12 million left on his original six-year contract with the club, but he has made it known that he would like to stay in St. Louis longer if possible, per the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
Wainwright interested in long-term extension with Cardinals
Both sides have expressed interest in discussing a long-term extension this winter.
Dilip Vishwanat
“In brief talks with (Cardinals executives) they feel real good about me coming back for a long time, and I want to make that happen,” Wainwright said. “I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t make that happen. ... It’s not like I have one foot out the door (to free agency).
“If I’m being honest, they have to show they respect what I’ve done and what I will do. And they have. They have. So I don’t think it will be a problem.”
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak declined to discuss the topic of Wainwright this week, but did approach the right-hander about an extension in August. If extension discussions do occur this offseason, the Cardinals will have to take into account the extension money given to the likes of Matt Cain and Jake Peavy to determine what it will take to keep Wainwright in St. Louis.
Wainwright (14-13, 3.94) put together a solid season in his first year back from surgery, posting stronger numbers as the year progressed. The right-hander’s performance was not quite to the standards of his 2009-2010 seasons -- in which he posted a 2.53 ERA and averaged 232 innings -- but he still managed an ERA under 4.00 and threw 198⅔ innings.
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