St. Louis Cardinals: Matt Holliday has plans for Adam Wainwright

Matt Holliday and Adam Wainwright spent eight years together as teammates on the St. Louis Cardinals. That relationship is not going to matter once spring training begins ahead of the 2023 season.

Holliday is set to join the Cardinals as their bench coach next year as part of the shakeup of their staff this offseason. And he already has plans for Wainwright, saying that he is considering having the longtime Cardinals star run a lap on the first day just to remind him that he is on the coaching staff.

St. Louis Cardinals legend Adam Wainwright getting his cardio

As it is, Holliday should have plenty of respect in the clubhouse. He was a seven time All Star and four time Silver Slugger, a key part of the Cardinals’ championship team back in 2011. There is no questioning his place in Cardinals’ history.

But that does not mean that he will be a successful coach. Holliday may have gravitas as a player, but he had not coached or managed in the professional ranks. That is not to say that he is devoid of experience; he had served as the hitting and outfielding coach on his brother’s staff at Oklahoma State from 2020 through 2022.

Holliday will, however, get plenty of attention if he follows through with this plan. Having Wainwright run a lap may be a humorous moment between former teammates but it can also make a statement. In doing so, he would show that no one player is above any other, that even the legends will be held to the same standards as everyone else. Wainwright running a lap may be good for a laugh, but it can also help bring the team together early in the year.

Matt Holliday already has plans for his first move as the St. Louis Cardinals’ bench coach. Adam Wainwright is going to get some cardio work in.