Wainwright signs on for 17th season
ST. LOUIS» Pitcher Adam Wainwright is returning to the St. Louis Cardinals for a 17th season.
The 39-year-old right-hander and the Cardinals finalized an $8 million, one-year contract on Friday, a deal agreed to earlier this week.
Wainwright will match Bob Gibson (1959-75) for the secondmost seasons with the Cardinals among pitchers, one behind Jesse Haines (1920-37).
Wainwright was 5-3 with a 3.15 ERA last season, striking out 54 in 65 2/3 innings. He is 167-98 with a 3.38 ERA in his career, earning three All-Star selections and two Gold Gloves.
He made $1,851,852 in prorated pay from a $5 million base salary last year plus $1.2 million in earned bonuses.
Wainwright’s contract includes a full no-trade provision even though he already cannot be dealt without his consent as a 10-year veteran who has spent the last five years with his current club.
Indians re-sign 2B Hernández to $5 million contract for 2021.
CLEVELAND» The Indians couldn’t afford to keep Francisco Lindor — or let César Hernández go.
Weeks after dealing Lindor and starter Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets and cutting $32 million from its payroll, Cleveland signed Hernández to a $5 million contract, one-year after the second baseman’s Gold Glove season with the club.
Hernández will return for a second season with the Indians, who signed him as a free agent to a $6.25 million, one-year contract late in 2019 after he spent seven seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Hernández agreed earlier this week to the new deal, which includes a $6 million club option in 2022 with no buyout. The contract was finalized Friday after he completed medical tests.
Phillies make it official, sign J.T. Realmuto to 5-year deal.
PHILADELPHIA» Two-time All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto and the Philadelphia Phillies finalized their $115.5 million, five-year contract on Friday.
Realmuto gets $20 million next season, of which $10 million is deferred, with $5 million each payable on July 15 in 2026 and 2027, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Realmuto gets $23,875,000 in each of the final four years.
Griffey hired as MLB senior adviser for youth development.
NEW YORK» Ken Griffey Jr. has been hired as a senior adviser to baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.
The Hall of Fame outfielder will work in baseball operations and on youth baseball development. He is tasked with improving diversity at amateur levels, Major League Baseball said Friday,
Griffey was a 13-time All-Star who hit .284 with 630 home runs and 1,836 RBIs in 22 seasons for Seattle (1989-99, 2009-10), Cincinnati (2000-08) and the Chicago White Sox (2008). He was elected to the Hall in 2016.
Tigers finalize $2 million, 1-year deal with C Ramos.
DETROIT» The Detroit Tigers finalized a $2 million, one-year contract with catcher Wilson Ramos on Friday.
Ramos played 45 games last season with the New York Mets, hitting .239 with five home runs and 15 RBIs.
Ramos was an All-Star in 2016 for the Washington Nationals and in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays.