Wainwright, Cards strike monster deal

(AP) -- Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals have agreed to a new contract that guarantees the Cardinals' ace an additional $97.5 million over five years through 2018.

Wainwright had been eligible to become a free agent after the World Series.

The new agreement, first reported by Ken Rosenthal, was confirmed by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because it had not yet been announced.

A 31-year-old right-hander, Wainwright was 14-13 with a 3.94 ERA last year after missing the Cardinals' World Series championship season in 2011 because of elbow surgery.

Wainwright was 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA in 2010 and was an NL All-Star.