In a clear indication that the Cardinals are implementing their offseason strategy of reducing payroll and giving more chances to younger players, the team has notified veteran pitchers Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, and Keynan Middleton that it will not be exercising their contract options for next season.**
President of baseball operations John Mozeliak announced on Thursday—just a day after the Dodgers secured the World Series title against the Yankees—that the Cardinals would decline Gibson’s $12 million option, Lynn’s $11 million option, and Middleton’s $6 million option for the 2025 season. The team had a five-day window following the World Series to make this decision, but they chose to inform the players on Thursday. According to their contracts, Gibson, Lynn, and Middleton will receive $1 million each due to the option declines.
These financial savings of approximately $26 million are expected to create opportunities for pitchers like Andre Pallante and Michael McGreevy while also helping the club achieve its goal of trimming payroll for 2025.
“Ultimately, it’s about positioning ourselves for maximum flexibility this offseason,” said Mozeliak, who is set to attend MLB’s General Managers Meetings in San Antonio next week. “We still have depth with Miles [Mikolas], Sonny [Gray], Steven Matz, [Erick] Fedde, Pallante, and McGreevy in the mix. As the offseason progresses, we’ll evaluate whether we need to add more to our rotation, but we want to maintain that flexibility.”
Gibson, a former standout at Missouri and a St. Louis area resident, finished the season with an 8-8 record and a 4.24 ERA over 30 starts, the second-most on the team in 2024. At 37, he was brought in partly for his veteran leadership, and manager Oliver Marmol frequently praised his ability to mentor younger pitchers based on his extensive big league experience since 2013.
Lynn, also 37, returned to St. Louis after developing through the Cardinals’ Minor League system and pitching for the team from 2011 to 2017. In 2024, he surpassed significant career milestones for innings pitched (2,006 1/3) and strikeouts (2,015), ending the season with a 7-4 record and a 3.84 ERA over 117 1/3 innings. Despite spending time on the injured list due to a problematic right knee, Lynn excelled with a 6-0 record and a 3.15 ERA in 13 starts at Busch Stadium.
Middleton, 31, was anticipated to be a crucial part of the Cardinals’ revamped bullpen after a strong 2023 season with the White Sox and Yankees. Unfortunately, he suffered a flexor tendon strain in his right forearm during spring training and was unable to contribute. He made only five appearances in two rehab stints with Double-A Springfield before pain returned, leading to season-ending surgery.
Reflecting on the situation, Mozeliak noted, “Less than a year ago, we pursued Gibson, Lynn, and Middleton, and I felt they fit well and were quite helpful. However, circumstances have changed. Pallante performed admirably, and we traded for Fedde, so we’re in a different position now. But those veterans contributed exactly as we hoped.”
