Redbirds Should Stop the Waiting Game

I love the St. Louis Cardinals but I really wish they would stop the waiting game with some of their players. They should know by now that the longer you wait, the more you “pay”; literally.  They should have learned their lesson when Albert left for richer pastures. Had they re-signed him to a long contract earlier in his career, he would most likely still be wearing Cardinal Red.
Oct 7, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) receives a new ball during the 2012 NLDS against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium. The Nationals won 3-2. Image Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
But most of Cardinal Nation is over that and have moved on.

But, lets look at a player they’re taking a gamble on waiting to renew his contract. That player is Adam Wainwright. My friend and fellow blogger on this site, Daniel Solzman writes a more detailed blog on this topic (https://redbirdrants.com/2012/12/19/adam-wainwright-needs-to-be-locked-up/) but, the longer the Cardinals wait to sign Wainwright, the more money they will end up spending. If you base his salary on other starting pitchers in the National League, he’s already underpaid. Edwin Jackson recently signed a 4 year, $52 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.

Now I like Edwin Jackson and loved when he was wearing Cardinal Red. But, he is not an Adam Wainwright. So you already have a journeyman pitcher getting paid more than the Cardinal Ace. If the Cardinals are as economically minded as they seem to be and want Wainwright to remain a Cardinal, they should renew his contract sooner than later. Otherwise, he will be another Redbird that “flies the coop”.

Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays.