Adam Wainwright plans to return for a 17th Major League season and the expectation is that he will agree to a new deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The two sides have been encouraged by "introductory" contract discussions and hope a new deal will be hammered out "in the near future."

The 40-year-old has a 3.05 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 200 1/3 innings pitched.