Ace Blowout: Who Can Step Up To Replace Adam Wainwright for St. Louis Cardinals?
It was a routine bullpen session on Monday morning in Jupiter, Florida for St. Louis Cardinals pitching ace Adam Wainwright.
However, it turned out to be more than just routine. At some point during the throwing session, Wainwright suffered what was termed a “significant injury” to his right elbow.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak was on Sports Radio 590 The Fan on Wednesday. He said that he believes that Wainwright will need Tommy John surgery and that he could be out for 12-15 months. On Thursday it was confirmed that Wainwright will have Tommy John surgery.
The injury is a crippling blow to the Cardinals. St. Louis sported a terrific top three in their starting rotation in 2010 with Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia.
The projected fourth and fifth starters for the Cardinals, Jake Westbrook and Kyle Lohse, are inconsistent at best. There isn’t a whole lot of depth beyond the starting five.
So just who can step up and take the load for the Cardinals in light of the devastating injury suffered by Adam Wainwright?
Here are a few suggestions…
1. Lance Lynn, RHP
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Lance Lynn, who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals out of the University of Mississippi in the supplemental first round (39th overall) of the June 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft, has shown signs of positive development in his three years in the Cards’ minor league system. Last year, Lynn was 13-10 for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, with a 4.77 earned run average and 141 strikeouts in 164 innings.
The year before, Lynn dominated at the Double-A level, posting a record of 11-4 with a 2.92 ERA.
Lynn will now have a golden opportunity to prove he can continue his development with the injury to Adam Wainwright.
2. Brandon Dickson, RHP
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Brandon Dickson was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Tusculum College (Tenn.) in 2006 by the St. Louis Cardinals, and he has slowly but surely climbed the ladder in the minor league system. Last season Dickson took a big leap, posting an 11-8 record with an impressive earned run average of 3.23.
Dickson also developed a changeup that is especially effective against left-handed hitters, and he has improved his strikeout-per-nine innings ratio considerably since 2006.
Dickson is definitely a viable option, but he does not project to be an ace.
3. P.J. Walters, RHP
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P.J. Walters could be an intriguing option for the St. Louis Cardinals. Walters was given three starts last season by the Cardinals, throwing a seven-inning, three-hit masterpiece in his final start on Sept. 29 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Walters projects to be a power pitcher, with 106 strikeouts in 108 innings last season for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. If Walters can continue demonstrating solid control, he could definitely be a feasible alternative for the Cardinals in 2011 with the loss of Adam Wainwright.
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4. Adam Ottavino, RHP
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Adam Ottavino, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round (30th overall) of the June 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Northeastern University, was given a shot last year by the Cardinals and was less than impressive. In five appearances, three of them starts, Ottavino gave up 37 hits in 22.1 innings, posting an earned run average of 8.46.
Ottavino is coming off of a shoulder injury, and while he made some inroads after being sent down to Memphis last season, he is a longshot to replace Adam Wainwright in the starting rotation for the Cardinals.
5. Brian Tallet, LHP
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Left-handed pitcher Brian Tallet, picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent, spent the first three years of his major league career with the Toronto Blue Jays, starting 25 games for the Jays in 2009.
While Tallet hasn’t exactly inspired confidence, being demoted to the bullpen by the Blue Jays last season after posting a 5.60 ERA as a starter, he is the only current candidate with more than a year’s experience as a starter.
Still, if he can’t crack the starting rotation for the Toronto Blue Jays, chances are he won’t be able to with the Cardinals, either.
6. Ian Snell, RHP
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Ian Snell, once a promising young prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was released mid-season last year by the Seattle Mariners after showing a complete inability to get anyone out, posting a 6.41 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in 12 appearances, eight of them starts.
Still, St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan has worked wonders with reclamation projects in the past (see Dennis Eckersley). If he can somehow figure out Snell’s control issues (he struck out only seven more batters than he walked over the past two seasons), then Snell could possibly be counted on by the Cardinals to contribute some quality starts.
7. Jeremy Bonderman, RHP
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Jeremy Bonderman, released by the Detroit Tigers last season after eight seasons, is currently looking for an opportunity to prove he can contribute.
With a 67-77 record and a lifetime ERA of 4.89 with the Tigers, Bonderman has only drawn significant interest from the Cleveland Indians.
However, with Adam Wainwright on the shelf for the year, the Cardinals could come calling for the services of the 28-year-old righthander.
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