Projecting the Cardinals Starting Rotation After Adam Wainwright Signing
By Parker White
The St. Louis Cardinals decided to bring back one of the leaders of their team, signing right-handed pitcher Adam Wainwright to a one-year deal. Even though there was a chance this wasn't going to happen, Wainwright had a nice 2019 season and was nails in October.
So, what will St. Louis' rotation look like come 2020?
With news that Adam Wainwright is returning to the #STLCards for his age-39 season, the club has one rotation vacancy, which it could fill with either Carlos Martínez or Ryan Helsley, or try to move a salary and wade into a deep free-agent pool of starters.
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) November 12, 2019
Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson and Miles Mikolas were already locks to be in the Redbirds' rotation. Now you add Wainwright to the mix, leaving just one spot to fill.
Internally, they could give Carlos Martinez, who was their closer for much of the year with Jordan Hicks out with an injury, another shot at being a top-of-the-rotation starter, or give 25-year-old Ryan Helsley an opportunity in camp.
Both will be in the mix, for sure, but maybe this will be the year former top prospect Alex Reyes will be healthy enough to compete for an open rotation spot?
Wainwright coming back makes all the sense in the world.
— Charlie Marlow (@CharlieMarlow_) November 12, 2019
And now with Flaherty, Hudson, Mikolas & Waino that leaves one rotation spot (pending health).
Cardinals brass have already said Martinez/Helsley will get a look.
I think this offseason is going to be very quiet.
St. Louis could move some money around and free up enough to be active in free agency for a second-tier starter, but that seems unlikely at this point in time. Of course, if Marcell Ozuna isn't retained, the Cardinals could use that money to fill in their rotation with a quality arm.
Stay tuned, as it's expected to be a busy offseason for St. Louis.