As starting pitchers go, Cardinals righthander Adam Wainwright might have taken the biggest pay cut in history — from $19.5 million last year at the end of a five-year deal to a $2 million base this year. This has forced him essentially to sing for his supper, with incremental additions to his income tied to an outcome of how many games in which he pitches.
Already, Wainwright has earned $2.5 million extra for passing the 15-start plateau. At 17, he seems headed for 30, which would net him an additional $5.5 million, running him up to $10 million by the end of the season.