The former Cardinals star has been linked to the Pirates after a stellar 2024 season with the Royals

Team St. The St. Louis Cardinals improved dramatically after finishing 71-91 in 2023 and going 83-79 this year. However, it wasn’t enough to reach the postseason and now they will look to begin a rebuild.

The rest of the National League has long since caught up with the Cardinals and it’s time for the St. Louis pressed the reset button. This means they won’t be competing for any stars in free agency.

Former Cardinal Michael Wacha is a free agent after a strong season with the Kansas City Royals in which he went 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA in 28 starts.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic connected Wacha with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Wacha made his Major League debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 and was a postseason hero. He defeated Clayton Kershaw twice to win the NLCS MVP, and the Cardinals won their 19th National League pennant.

Injuries derailed him for much of his time at St. Louis, but he seems to have figured it out and is now one of the top pitchers in Major League Baseball.

It is not expected that St. Louis will be a strong rival next season. The Pirates could take a few steps forward and add him to a rotation that already features Paul Skenes and Jared Jones.

The meeting with Wacha will not be easy, especially since the Cardinals have a rather weak attack. The right-hander likely won’t return to St. John’s this winter. Louis. The only possible way is to sell Sonny Gray.

We will see how the market for Wacha develops.

More MLB: The Yankees reportedly tried to sign the former Cardinals star in a hit Deadline video