WAINWRIGHT’S CONTRACT PUT ON HOLD

Adam Wainwright’s contract with the St. Louis Cardinals has been put on hold because it violates the maximumcut rule, and the pitcher will have to become a free agent before the agreement can be finalized, people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

St. Louis announced the agreement with the 37yearold righthander on Oct. 11. He has finished a $97.5 million, fiveyear contract that paid $19.5 million annually.

Under baseball’s labor contract, his guaranteed salary could not be reduced by more than 20 percent if he remains on the roster continuously. That means he would have to be guaranteed at least $15.6 million.

His new deal contains a salary less than that figure, people familiar with the agreement said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized. The maximumcut rule would not apply if he becomes a free agent following the World Series, and then agrees to the new deal.

Wainwright was 24 with a 4.46 ERA in eight starts this year, sidelined by hamstring and elbow injuries. He pitched four times in September.

Cora helping homeland of Puerto Rico.

Having seen his homeland of Puerto Rico devastated by Hurricane Maria, Boston manager Alex Cora remains at the forefront of helping the island rebuild.

“It’s been a year since the hurricane and Puerto Rico is still recovering. We all have families over there and we know that the situation remains difficult,” Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero said. “Hopefully, this can bring a little bit of relief to the people, that they have a Puerto Rican hero in such a big state, so important,” he said.

Sale better, will start Game 1 of Series.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora says Chris Sale is set to make his next start at Tuesday’s World Series opener in Fenway Park. Cora said on Thursday that Sale threw off flat ground again earlier in the day and was feeling better after a stomach illness forced him to spend a night in the hospital.