Adam Wainwright's second-place finish in last year's Cy Young voting vested the $21 million option in his contract for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. However, there is an injury clause in his contract that will allow St. Louis to decline the options if the pitcher finishes the 2011 season on the disabled list. After undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier this year, Wainwright will be on the DL for the entire season. The Cardinals must choose between guaranteeing $21 million to an ace, who will make $9 million in 2012, or letting him go into the open market. They could also renegotiate Wainwright's contract. "I'm actually really happy that I have that option, that I have that clause in there right now," Wainwright said. "One way or the other, if I'm hurt and I can never come back, I would feel bad taking that much money from a team I couldn't help. If (the Cardinals) don't want to pick it up, then I'll be a free agent sooner."