ST. LOUIS – One day after the 2024 MLB season comes to an end, the St. Louis Cardinals begin to make moves for next season, declining one-year club options on three veteran pitchers.
The Cardinals decline 2025 club options for starting pitchers Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn, along with relief pitcher Keynan Middleton.
Each of the three pitchers are owed $1 million each for contract buyout. The decisions not to retain Gibson, Lynn and Middleton will free up $29 million in the Cardinals’ anticipated 2025 payroll. The Cardinals would have owed $12 million, $11 million and $6 million for each of the three pitchers respectively.
The Cardinals signed Gibson and Lynn to short-term deals last offseason with hopes to provide innings and leadership within the pitching staff. Gibson went 8-8 with a 4.24 ERA over 30 starts and 169.2 innings. Lynn went 7-4 with a 3.84 ERA over 23 starts and 117.1 innings.
Middleton suffered an abrupt injury late into spring training that required him to undergo season-ending flexor tendon surgery in June. Despite his contract, he never pitched a regular-season game for the Cardinals.
The moves are likely among the first the Cardinals pursue as the front office gears up for what John Mozeliak coined as an organizational “reset” in final year as lead executive. In their recent end-of-the-season news conference, Cardinals ownership and front office members mentioned they were anticipating a reduced payroll from previous seasons.
The Cardinals are also hoping to put a larger emphasis on player development and plan to promote Chaim Bloom in Mozeliak’s current role as President of Baseball Operations after next season. Mozeliak recently explained his visions for this offseason and future expectations for the Cardinals in a one-on-one interview with FOX 2 Sports Director Martin Kilcoyne.
With Gibson and Lynn gone, two key pieces of the rotation last season, the Cardinals could use a combination of Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, Erick Fedde, Steven Matz and Andre Pallante for next season, if those pitchers remain healthy and on the St. Louis roster come next season. Prospects Michael McGreevy, Tink Hence and Quinn Mathews are also possibilities to push for MLB starts with the Cardinals next season.
MLB Free Agency, the window for the Cardinals to possibly sign new free agents, officially opens on Monday, Nov. 4.