Chris Carpenter
To replace the departed pitchers, the Cardinals promoted Adam Wainwright, who spent 2006 in relief and took the closer's job from injured Jason Isringhausen, to the rotation. They signed free agent pitcher Kip Wells to fill another spot. The team entered 2007 with a rotation of Chris Carpenter, Wells, Wainwright and Anthony Reyes, with reliever Braden Looper assuming the fifth starter's role until Mulder's return.