By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | November 21, 2016, 12:02 am CT
Seemingly destined for the bullpen in 2017 after losing his rotation spot last season, it’s now possible Michael Wacha could have worn the birds on the bat for the last time.
The Cardinals have floated Wacha’s name in trade discussions this offseason, sources tell Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, who writes “it’s unlikely [the Cardinals] would get much” for the right-hander given his injury history and recent struggles.
As Rosenthal notes, Wacha, still just 25 years old, is now three years away from a rookie season in which he pitched excellently in the playoffs and “looked poised to become one of the best pitchers in the sport.”
In his first three seasons in the majors, Wacha posted a 24-14 record, 3.21 ERA, and 1.19 WHIP in 64 appearance (58) starts before injury struck in 2016.
The right-hander pitched to a disappointing 4.45 ERA in his first 23 starts of the season before missing a month with shoulder inflammation. Wacha returned only to allow 13 runs in his next 6 2/3 innings to end the season.
With Lance Lynn set to rejoin the rotation (joining Adam Wainwright, Carlos Martinez, Mike Leake, and potentially Jaime Garcia) after missing the 2016 season following Tommy John surgery, Wacha currently appears destined to return to the bullpen, which he pitched out of in four appearances last season.
Wacha is under team control through 2019 and is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to earn $3.2 million in salary arbitration this winter.
