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Cheap Pitchers the Cardinals Can Sign to Replace Michael Wacha

By Max Staley

Michael Wacha signed with the New York Mets in free agency.
Michael Wacha signed with the New York Mets in free agency. / Scott Kane/Getty Images
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Michael Wacha is one of the more inconsistent starters in the league (much of which has had to do with injury. He's finished four seasons with an ERA below 3.40, and had three seasons with an ERA above 4.10.

He started 29 games for the Cardinals last season, but St. Louis will need to find a replacement for him soon, as Wacha signed a 1-year deal with the New York Mets. With that in mind, here are three cheap pitchers St. Louis can sign to replace Wacha this offseason.

1. Wade Miley, Houston Astros

Wade Miley takes the hill against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Wade Miley takes the hill against the Tampa Bay Rays. / Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Wade Miley likely won't command a huge contract, but he was pretty effective last year and would be a nice fit in St. Louis. The Cardinals' current rotation is extremely heavy on right-handed pitchers, so a lefty like Miley would be a much-needed change of pace. Miley posted a 3.98 ERA last season, and had a 2.57 ERA the year prior.

2. Gio Gonzalez, Milwaukee Brewers

Gio Gonzalez on the mound against the Miami Marlins.
Gio Gonzalez on the mound against the Miami Marlins. / Mark Brown/Getty Images

Gio Gonzalez did an admirable job with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019. He had a 3.50 ERA across 19 appearances (17 starts), and posted a 3-2 record. He's not as electric as he used to be, with just 78 Ks last year in 87 1/3 innings pitched. But even at 34 years old, the lefty still has enough left in the tank to help the Cardinals make a postseason push.

3. Alex Wood, Cincinnati Reds

Alex Wood takes the hill against the Marlins.
Alex Wood takes the hill against the Marlins. / Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Alex Wood had the worst year of his career in seven starts last season, but he's otherwise been an effective pitcher. The former All-Star pitcher had a 5.80 ERA in 2019, but he's had two seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA (in 2014 and 2017). From 2016-2018, Wood had three consecutive seasons with a K/9 rate of at least 8.0, and he could be a low-cost, high-upside gamble for St. Louis.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.