RetroSimba

(Updated Dec. 10, 2023)

The Cardinals acquired Adam Wainwright from the Braves in the belief he would develop into an ace for them.

On Dec. 13, 2003, the Cardinals traded outfielder J.D. Drew and catcher Eli Marrero to the Braves for pitchers Jason Marquis, Ray King and Wainwright.

Describing Wainwright as the key player of the trade for the Cardinals, St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Without him, there wasn’t a deal.”

At the time, Wainwright, 22, was a prospect who posted a 10-8 record and 3.37 ERA for Class AA Greenville (S.C.) in 2003.

“Adam is our No. 1 pitching prospect,” Braves general manager John Schuerholz told the Associated Press.

Said Jocketty to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “We see him as a top-of-the-rotation kind of guy in a couple of years.”

Baseball America magazine said Wainwright had “an ideal combination of size, talent and makeup. He started working off his 92 mph to 93 mph fastball more often at midseason and the positive results were immediate. He also throws a hard curveball and a solid changeup … He has a great work ethic and is one of the most intelligent pitching prospects … He needs to continue to gain confidence … He tends to be too fine with his pitches instead of challenging hitters.”

Slick move

Some thought the Cardinals had given up too much in dealing Drew, 28. In six years with St. Louis, he hit .282 and had a .377 on-base percentage, but he also was injury-prone and eligible for free agency after the 2004 season.

In retrospect, Jocketty took advantage of the Braves, who were desperate to replace the run production supplied by departed free agents Gary Sheffield in right field and Javy Lopez at catcher.

“That was tough to do,” Schuerholz said of including Wainwright in the deal, “but, under the circumstances, we had no choice.”

(Drew and Marrero each would play one season for the Braves. Drew departed through free agency for the Dodgers. Marrero was dealt to the Royals.)

The Cardinals were in the market for pitching and the Braves offered a bonanza.

“We felt that without pitching we weren’t going to have a chance to improve in the standings next year,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told the Associated Press.

Said Jocketty: “There were a couple deals we could have done. We just felt this was the best overall for us.”

Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz endorsed the deal, though he was concerned whether La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan were best-suited to develop a young arm. “Wainwright is a legitimately bright prospect and a potential steal for the Cardinals,” Miklasz wrote, “but if Duncan and La Russa are around beyond the 2004 season, it may not matter because they can’t develop young pitchers. Perhaps Wainwright will be nurtured and saved by the next regime.”

Good results

The trade helped the Cardinals improve from 85 wins and a third-place finish in 2003 to 105 wins and a first-place finish in 2004. With Marquis contributing 15 wins as a starter and King appearing in 86 games as a left-handed relief specialist, St. Louis won the pennant in 2004 for the first time in 17 years.

Marquis posted 13 or more wins in each of his three seasons with St. Louis, helping the Cardinals to the postseason each time.

King pitched in 163 games in two seasons for St. Louis.

At Class AAA Memphis in 2004, Wainwright was 4-4 with a 5.37 ERA when elbow discomfort caused him to discontinue throwing in June.

He was 10-10 with a 4.40 ERA in 29 starts for Memphis in 2005, though he led the Pacific Coast League in innings pitched (182) and was second in strikeouts (147).

Wainwright was eased into his first big-league season in 2006 by La Russa and Duncan. Used exclusively in relief, Wainwright led all St. Louis relievers in holds (23) and strikeouts (72). In the postseason, he was 1-0 with four saves and 15 strikeouts in 9.2 scoreless innings.

Wainwright spent his entire big-league career with the Cardinals and produced a record of 200-128. He ranks second on the franchise list in strikeouts (2,202) and starts (411) and is third in wins.