As the MLB offseason heats up, the St. Louis Cardinals should draw attention to teams looking to trade for a starting pitcher. The team has already let two starting pitchers go to free agency. There are three starting pitchers on their roster who have a high likelihood of being moved before the team convenes in the Spring.
Three Cardinals Starting Pitchers That Could Be Traded Soon
Among the pitchers the Cardinals seek to move, Steven Matz seems the most likely. According to Derrick Goold with the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Cardinals expect to “field interest” in the left-handed pitcher.
Matz is in the final year of his deal with the Cardinals. He is slated to make $12.5 million this season but has no trade protections on his contract. The 33-year-old pitcher is an attractive option for the Cardinals to trade away because of the desire to cut payroll and the ability to trade him wherever they can find the best deal.
2024 was a down year for Matz because of injuries. He was shut down with a back strain on May 1st and didn’t make it back to the Cardinals until September. In all, he only pitched 44.1 innings in 2024. In that time, he produced a 5.08 ERA with 33 strikeouts.
Matz is no longer the commodity he once was on the Mets, but his ability to start games or come out of the bullpen makes him a potential trade candidate for teams looking to plug some roster holes this season with contract flexibility long term.
Moving On From A Longtime Starter
Another pitcher in the final year of his deal with the Cardinals is Miles Mikolas. The right-hander is slated to make $17.6 million in 2025. Mikolas has been with the Cardinals since returning from Japan in 2018.
Mikolas would be challenging to trade for several reasons. First, he has a no-trade clause, meaning he would have to approve any deal. Next, he is 36 years old and coming off a season with the highest ERA since returning from Japan, 5.35.
It’s also a steep price. If the Cardinals move him, it’s likely they would retain some of his salary. The organization will be motivated to move him if they can as they focus on younger talent and cutting costs. He could be part of a trade package involving stars Nolan Arenado or Ryan Helsley.
Mikolas has been healthy over the past three seasons, pitching 171.2 innings in 2024 and more than 200 innings in the two seasons before that. The right-hander is a solid innings-eating option that could fit well in the back end of the rotation for any contending team.
Reversing A 2024 Deadline Deal
At the 2024 trade deadline, the Cardinals acquired Erick Fedde in a deal that sent Tommy Edman to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now their priorities have changed. The team’s playoff push fell very short last season, and Fedde was underwhelming for the Cardinals after the trade.
Fedde returned from the Korean League in 2024 and pitched well with the Chicago White Sox. He had a 3.11 ERA in 21 starts with the White Sox. The Right Hander had a win-loss record of 7-4 and had a WAR of 4.7 before the trade. After the trade, Fedde made 11 starts and had a 3.72 ERA with a 2-5 record and a .9 WAR.
Fedde’s contract is easier to trade than Mikolas’. He is 31 years old and slated to make $7.5 million in 2025. The Cardinals are not likely to sign him past this season when his contract expires, as they have a pipeline of pitchers they want to insert into their major league lineup.
The Cardinals aren’t as eager to move Fedde as Matz or Mikolas. However, he had the best 2024 season, is the youngest of the three, and is making the least. He may draw the best return on the trade of any of the three pitchers, which could tempt the Cardinals.
Main Photo Credits: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
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