WAINWRIGHT’S NEW DEAL NIXED
Adam Wainwright’s contract with the St. Louis Cardinals has been put on hold because it violates the maximum-cut 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 37-yearold right-hander Oct. 11 after he finished a US$97.5-million, five-year contract. Under baseball’s labour contract, his guaranteed salary could not be reduced by more than 20 per cent 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, people familiar with the agreement told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The maximum-cut rule would not apply if he becomes a free agent following the World Series and then agrees to the new deal with the Cards.