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Would a reunion with Michael Wacha make sense for the Cardinals?
10 years ago, Michael Wacha took St. Louis by storm. Could he be a fit for the Cardinals' rotation once again in 2024?
Back in 2013, Michael Wacha gave Cardinals fans a run to remember.
He was highly touted within the Cardinals organization, and fans were waiting to see what he could bring to the table. On September 24, the young right-hander came just one out shy of a no-hitter against the Nationals.
Weeks later, he was St. Louis' most consistent starter in the postseason, going 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA in five starts and earning NLCS MVP honors.
After that, Wacha began to struggle with injuries that marred his time in St. Louis but did show flashes of his potential. Now with the Padres, Wacha is one of the game's most durable starters. He is 11-2 with a 2.85 ERA in 19 starts, averaging eight strikeouts per nine innings and just three walks.
He signed a four-year deal with the Padres prior to the 2023 season, but his deal does include team and player options, meaning he could potentially opt out this winter and become a free agent again.
I was of the opinion that Wacha could've been someone the Cardinals targeted last offseason in terms of starting pitching. Unfortunately, they didn't add a starter like they should have, and they're paying the price for it now.
But if he hits the open market again this offseason, could the Cardinals potentially take a look at bringing him back and reuniting with the 2013 NLCS MVP?
In this piece, we will explore the possibility of a reunion with Wacha and discuss whether or not it makes sense for the team.
Wacha's bounce-back
After posting a 4.76 ERA in his final season with the Cardinals, Wacha joined the Mets, and things didn't get any better. He had a 6.62 ERA in eight appearances. 2021 saw Wacha join the Rays and post a 5.05 ERA in 29 appearances, 23 of which were starts.
Prior to the lockout, the Red Sox took a flyer on the veteran right-hander. Though injuries limited him to just 23 starts, he really improved and was Boston's best starter in 2022.
Wacha won 11 games and posted a 3.32 ERA. This year, he has remained healthy for the most part, which makes him an ideal candidate to fill a rotation spot next year should the Cardinals target him.
Why Bring Back Wacha?
Of course, he has to actually become a free agent for the Cardinals to have a chance at getting him.
His time in St. Louis may have been marred by injuries, but he has proven that when healthy, he can be a dangerous weapon in any starting rotation. He was always more of a ground ball pitcher with the Cardinals, but he's improving in the strikeout category, and that's something the Cardinals need more of. He also doesn't walk a lot of batters.
He also wouldn't be terribly expensive, making this a move that John Mozeliak and Bill DeWitt might be comfortable making. Organizational familiarity is also a plus, and he would be reuniting with several former teammates.
The Downside
Granted, the Cardinals need more than just one pitcher, and Wacha isn't someone you would typically mark as an ace. This means that if the Cardinals do target him, they'll need to target other frontline starters.
But what could the possible downside be here, you ask? Well, injuries are still a bit of an issue for Wacha. His shoulder has given him a little trouble this year, and it cost him several months last year, so there would always be that risk if the Cardinals do choose to target him.
A lot of his injury issues occurred in St. Louis, so the Cardinals would have to be sure they understand what they're getting into if they sign him.
The Verdict
In my opinion, it would be a great idea to target Wacha. Part of me is probably being sentimental, seeing as how when Adam Wainwright retires, there will be no holdovers from the 2006, 2011, and 2013 World Series teams.
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But the numbers speak for themselves. Wacha is pitching like the guy we saw in 2013 and what the Cardinals were expecting him to be when he first came up. I wouldn't say he's an ace, but he's durable and also brings some solid postseason experience with him.
St. Louis must be cognizant of his injury history, but from a performance standpoint, I think it would be a pretty good move.