ST. LOUIS — It took just over 12 hours into the offseason for the St. Louis Cardinals to make their first roster decisions.
Shortly after the Los Angeles Dodgers bested the New York Yankees in five games to win the 2024 World Series, Major League Baseball’s offseason began with teams making many decisions. The Cardinals were no exception. On Thursday afternoon, St. Louis declined its 2025 club options on Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn and Keynan Middleton. All three players will become free agents and can sign with any club once the free-agency window opens on Monday. The moves will open two 40-man roster spots — Middleton ended the year on the 60-day injured list so his roster spot was not counted. It will also clear $26 million in salary off the books for next year.
“Ultimately, the direction we’re going is going to be creating a lot of opportunity for some of our younger players,” president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said last week.
We have declined the 2025 club options for RHPs Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, and Keynan Middleton. #ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/9z0a1Sjqs7
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) October 31, 2024
The decision to decline Lynn’s (due $11 million next year) and Middleton’s (due $6 million) options weren’t surprising. Declining Gibson’s option, however, is a clear signal of how the club will operate this winter. Gibson’s option next season was for $12 million, a very reasonable salary for a proven starting pitcher who made 30 starts last season. However, the Cardinals would like to prioritize the development of their young pitchers and also are looking to shed payroll when appropriate as they pivot toward a transition period next year. In years prior, picking up such a team-friendly salary to supplement the rotation would have been a no-brainer. This year, not so much.
Though he finished the season with a 4.24 ERA, Gibson was arguably the team’s most consistent starting pitcher last year. He was also vastly respected amongst the clubhouse and coaching staff and had expressed desires to remain in St. Louis. The club could look to re-sign Gibson at a lower salary, though that scenario is unlikely.
Next year’s rotation currently lines up as Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Miles Mikolas, Andre Pallante and Steven Matz, but it’s nearly a guarantee the rotation will not look like that come spring training. Pallante broke out in the second half last season, posting a 3.47 ERA over 12 starts, the best mark of any of the club’s starters after the All-Star break. The Cardinals would like to give him as much opportunity as possible next season. Fedde, who will make $7.5 million next year, is a mid-tier starting pitcher acquired well below market price. It’s unlikely the Cardinals would move him this winter, barring an exceptional deal.
Where the rotation questions lie is with the remaining veterans. Gray (signed through 2027, due $25 million in 2025) and Mikolas (signed through 2025, due $17.6 million in 2025) both have full no-trade clauses. Matz (signed through 2025, due $12 million in 2025) does not. St. Louis could be incentivized to move Matz solely because he does not have the authority to veto a trade. Still, serious conversations will be had with both Gray and Mikolas about the trajectory of the club.
The conversation with Gray will be most pertinent. When Gray signed his three-year, $75 million deal last November, he did so under the premise that he would be joining a contending team for the duration of his contract. The Cardinals have already publicly admitted their intentions to compete will be paused, at least for next year. Gray’s contract is also heavily backloaded; he is set to make $35 million in 2026 with a club option worth $30 million in 2027. Gray will have to agree to any potential trade, though it remains to be seen if the Cardinals’ change in direction would also change his mind.
There are a variety of young arms the Cardinals would like to see more of. Michael McGreevy, the team’s 2021 first-round pick, impressed in his brief stint in the majors and will be a top name to watch come spring training. Drew Rom, who missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, could also compete for a rotation spot. Zack Thompson and Gordon Graceffo could be in the mix as well, as could pitching prospects Tink Hence, Tekoah Roby and Quinn Mathews. Hence and Roby will need to be added to the 40-man roster to protect them ahead of MLB’s annual Rule 5 draft. The Cardinals must add them by November 19; all indications are that they will do so.
The Cardinals are expected to have five open spots on their 40-man roster once MLB’s free-agent period officially opens on Monday. They ended the season with 39 players on the roster, though Rom will fill that open spot. The departures of Gibson and Lynn, along with free agents Paul Goldschmidt, Andrew Kittredge and Matt Carpenter, will bring the 40-man roster total to 35.
(Photo of Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)
