The free agent market for pitchers is on the rise, which should bode well for Adam Wainwright in the near future.

He is entering the final year of his contract and the Cardinals have expressed a desire to reach a long-term agreement.

Before the winter meetings a club official said the two sides had not held "substantive" talks, but agent Steve Hammond wrote to the Post-Dispatch only that he expects to discuss an extension with the Cardinals during spring training.