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One more year for Waino!
We have agreed to terms with free-agent pitcher Adam Wainwright on a one-year contract for 2020. pic.twitter.com/ZzKnVUKly1
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) November 12, 2019
Everyone covering the #stlcards has an Adam Wainwright article today. Me, too! https://t.co/HG9q1oDLf5 pic.twitter.com/N8BJW75G3V
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) November 12, 2019
Not a surprise, and depending on the financial aspect, it is a safe and solid signing. Probably something around $6-8M with incentives that could push it closer to $13-15M. I still think there’s a need for a backup plan in case Waino gets hurt or can’t pitch well enough. I’ll be glad to see Waino pitch as the 5th starter in 2020.
Considering he maxxed out at $10 MM last year, a $13-15 MM peak seems awfully rich, especially for a 38 year old with a checkered injury history. I would be fine with a larger base than the $2 MM last year, but I’d leave the top end where it was.
I get the sense that the Cards would give a bump on both the guarantee and the max money, given how they usually treat Cardinal legends. He was a roughly average starter last year after a much rougher 2018 so I’d think he’s due a raise, anyway.
If you forget about his 2015-2018, when he made $78 million and delivered a four-year total of 2.2 bWAR. Last season, they got 1.9 bWAR for their $10 million.
If you forget about his 2015-2018, when he made $78 million and delivered a four-year total of 2.2 bWAR. Last season, they got 1.9 bWAR for their $10 million.
Oh, I haven’t forgotten about that. I mentioned it on another thread last week…it might have been the worst extension in franchise history. Typically, players don’t give discounts when they bounce back from a down year even if they were overpaid before. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if he doesn’t get a raise in both guaranteed and maximum money. We will see.
I am glad an agreement has been made. I will reserve judgement until the figures are revealed.
I am hopeful Wainwright banks on his health and ability again. He wants to be a Cardinal and has already made his money. I can see another contract with a slightly higher base and a little more in incentives.
I just find fan behavior funny. When the critics list the bad contracts given by the team, Wainwright never even comes up. The money they lost on his four mostly down years is about as much as Fowler’s entire five-year contract and is more than Cecil’s contract and Carpenter’s extension added together. But Wainwright gets a pass because of his rich history. My take is that teams get into the most trouble when they pay for the past instead of projected future performance.
Bringing the conversation full circle, no one would reasonably project that Wainwright will perform better next year, so why give him the potential for a 30 to 50 percent increase? He has already cashed in nicely.
I would not be at all shocked if the contract is the exact same one he signed last offseason. That was a very fair deal for both sides. Secondly, both sides are hopeful that he maxes out his incentives.
When you look solely at production for the money, Wainwright’s 2014-2018 contract is very bad. Most of the negative is due to injury. It has taken some time but he has finally got his health back and is able to pitch like a #4, maybe a #3, starting pitcher. By giving him a little more base (no more than $5) and even a little more in incentives, would be paid according to how he could perform in 2020. If he does poorly, he retires or is released. If he does well, he is paid well.
Keep the base the same is my view, whatever that’s worth, and bump him up on incentives. How can that go wrong?
This article doesn’t give the specifics, but does hint that his base salary will be higher and that he’ll have a shot to earn incentives again.
Comparing Wainwright and Fowler is apples and oranges. Fowler was a panic move and was overpaid for what reasonably could be expected. And it isn’t a shock that he’s been less than what could have reasonably been expected.
Yadi’s contract, on the other hand, is probably the better one for you to point to. But being a sure-fire Cardinals hall of famer makes a real difference.
In the context provided, it is reasonable to compare any two contracts with one another, especially ones given to free agents. So much money was paid and so much return was received. The reasons behind why the deals were done in the first place is interesting background, but does not change the basics. Results for money.
For Wainwright 2015-2018, he received $78 MM and returned 2.2 bWAR, so the team paid $35.5 MM per WAR.
For Fowler 2017-2019, he received $49.5 MM and returned 1.9 bWAR, so the team paid $26.1 MM per WAR.In both cases, these are only partial contracts, but you get the point. The Cards got less for their money during Waino’s four down years than for Fowler’s contract to date. Neither is anything to brag about, obviously.
So a bump in guaranteed money but the overall numbers would stay the same. This is a pretty good contract.
Wainwright contract with #STLCards, per source: One year, $5M plus $5M incentives.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 12, 2019
I was hoping for a lower base, but im happy to pay him so I dont have to see him in a BRaves uniform
Thing is, you want him to play well and earn his money, but also every time he keeps playing well he will want to keep playing…thus keep re-upping him. At some point though it will all fall apart.
I want Waino to keep pitching for a while, and if he pitches like last year I could care less if it is a bit too much money. His function as veteran and basically another pitching coach who isnt getting paid has to be factored in when it comes to his worth.
If Waino can stay healthy for awhile, it at least buys some time to get that 5th spot in the rotation worked out, hopefully.
someone at work told me it was the same aa last year which would have been lowball this year based on what he did last year. he deserved a little more trust based on how he pitched. but I just read it was for 5 million base and 5 million in incentives which I feel is fine and he deserved as much. they should have given that 2 million deal to carpenter instead of giving him an extension last year. that’s about what he deserves.
I did not want Waino back this year as a starter, but thought he could be a great asset to the bullpen. He went out and proved he could still be an effective starter, so I am glad he is back.
You just hope he goes out on a good year, and does not limp through the season with injuries and poor results.
Hey, just saw Shildt for MOY!! Awesome!
Adam was just on Hot Stove on the MLB network with Harold Reynolds and Matt Vasgersian. It was one of the best interviews you will ever see. He is a great representative of the Cardinals.
Cards were looking for a veteran starter for the back of the rotation. Here he is.
He’d be a lousy #2 or #3, but a pretty good value at #5.
Plans for 2021…
This must read concludes with Adam Wainwright saying this: "As long as (the Cardinals) will have me, I’d love to play again next year." https://t.co/lpHCPU7uLI
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) May 8, 2020
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