Wainwright's New Contract Gives Cardinals Some Extra Spending Money

He's back for one more year. 

Robert Murray of FanSided reports that Adam Wainwright's $17.5 million salary for 2023 includes $10 million deferred. 

The deferred salary could give the St. Louis Cardinals some extra wiggle-room in their spending this offseason, which could also give Wainwright the chance to end his career a World Series winner. 

Adam Wainwright’s contract with the St. Louis Cardinals: one-year, $17.5 million. $10 million is deferred. $500K each for 28, 30 starts, plus other awards/bonuses.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) October 28, 2022

According to Murray, the deal allows Wainwright the opportunity to earn an extra $500,000 for reaching 28 starts and 30 starts, respectively. There are other bonuses and incentives he could earn more for reaching as well. 

The forty-one-year-old starter struggled down the stretch in 2022 due to a knee injury, but still registered a solid 3.71 ERA across 191.2 innings and 32 starts.

Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports