The St. Louis Cardinals signed ace pitcher Adam Wainwright to a five year contract extension.
The contact is worth $97.5 million and is the largest contract in the franchise’s history for a pitcher.
The 31-year old pitcher would have been a free agent at the end of this season.
In a press conference posted on the team’s website, Wainwright said his heart is in St. Louis.
“God has given me this great ability, given me this great platform. And I just don’t want to waste it. To whom much is given, much is required. And I’m going to make the most of my opportunity here,” Wainwright said. “I look forward to many more years as a St. Louis Cardinal and I can’t wait to perform and make you all proud of this contract.”
Wainwright pitched the final out of the National League Championship and the World Series for St. Louis in 2006 when he was a rookie. He later developed into one of the best pitchers in baseball.
At a press conference posted on the team’s website, general manager John Mozeliak said Wainwright has bought in to everything the organization stands for.
“As we look to the future, we want to continue to invest in our players. We want them to know that our commitment to winning is first and foremost,”Mozeliak said. “But having the ability to invest in this type of person and to know that he is really going to be one of those key leaders moving forward is something I feel very fortunate as a general manager to know we have.”
The deal comes with some risk. Wainwright was shut down in 2011 for Tommy John surgery. Last year he posted a 14 and 13 record with an ERA of 3.94.
After losing Albert Pujols to free agency, the Cardinals have signed other key veterans to extensions, such as Yadier Molina and Allen Craig.
