Ex-Cardinals Homegrown Star Hitting Open Market, Sets Up Opportunity For Reunion
The St. Louis is going to be very active in the pitching market this winter after Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak declared that he would add three starters this offseason.
Names such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola and even former friend Jordan Montgomery will headline an incredibly strong class of hurlers. But all three additions will not be from the top of the market, which is why St. Louis will have a deep list of targets.
One of those potential targets was a former Cardinals first-round pick that has gotten back on track after a few down years toward the middle of his career.
"The (San Diego) Padres declined their two-year, $32 million club option on Michael Wacha," The Athletic's Dennis Lin reported Saturday. "He's now expected to go to free agency."
Wacha has been a high-end pitcher over the last two years after seemingly reinventing himself with the Boston Red Sox in 2022.
The 32-year-old has gone 25-6 with a 3.27 ERA (127 ERA+), 228-to-74 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .228 batting average against and 1.14 WHIP in 261 1/3 innings across 47 starts over the last two seasons.
Wacha is projected to receive a three-year, $36 million deal according to The Athletic's Tim Britton's research -- which would make him one of the best values available.
St. Louis absolutely should get one of the aforementioned big names to lead the rotation and then fill out the rest of the group with players that come a little cheaper. Something along the lines of Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray and Wacha would place the St. Louis right back in the postseason mix.
More MLB: Dodgers Decline Ex-Cardinals Fan Favorite's Club Option With Free Agency Looming
