Cesar Tordesillas

The St. Louis Cardinals and its No. 1 starter Adam Wainwright have agreed to a five-year, $97.5 million contract extension after almost two months of negotiations.

Wainwright's new deal, which will be the largest for a pitcher in franchise history, will begin next year and run through the 2018 season.

The contract eclipses the five-year, $63.5 million deal Chris Carpenter signed with the Cardinals in Dec. 2006.

The 31-year-old right-hander could have become a free agent after this season. He's due to make $13 million in 2013.

Getting Wainwright, 31, signed before he could become a free agent next offseason was a priority for the Cardinals.

Wainwright had expressed a desire to stay, but also wanted to be paid what he viewed as fair market value for being among the game's elite. He announced recently that he wanted resolution with his contract status before he starts for the Cardinals on Monday's Opening Day.

Last season, Wainwright made a strong return from Tommy John surgery, going 14-13 with a 3.94 ERA. He was durable enough to make 32 starts and throw 198 2/3 innings.

Wainwright has a career record of 80-48 and a 3.15 ERA.

According to manager Mike Matheny, Wainwright earned his title as an ace through "former accomplishments, current stuff, and then leadership qualities and capabilities."

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Adam Wainwright Agrees to $97.5-M, 5-year Extension