The St. Louis Cardinals are in a tight situation. They have every incentive in the world to begin a full-scale reconstruction, but their front management has been hesitant to do so for several years. They are now overburdened with veterans who are paid far more than they should be. However, President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak has the opportunity to remedy some of his wrongs during his final season in his current role.
The expected rebuilding process has already begun. St. Louis will make a few more moves in the coming weeks to continue their roster rearrangement. In reality, after the winter meetings, a few players are seeing their time in St. Louis come to an end.
Which players won’t be returning to St. Louis after the winter meetings, and why?
3. RHP Miles Mikolas
The St. Louis Cardinals made the same error many times. They would often sign a seasoned pitcher with average outcomes to a contract worth far more than $15 million per year. St. Louis committed this error with nearly every pitcher in their starting rotation, despite having some extremely talented arms in the minors. With veterans filling out big-league rosters, excellent prospects have been stuck in the minors.
This theory is amply demonstrated by experienced starter Miles Mikolas, who will earn $18.5 million in 2025. Mikolas is 36 years old, far past his prime.
Last season, the veteran righty pitched 171.2 innings in 32 starts. His 5.35 ERA and 11 losses earned him a negative WAR. Mikolas has suffered double-digit defeats in four of his six seasons with the Cardinals.
The Cardinals may and should find a way to release him. Even if it means eating a piece of his contract. St. Louis would benefit from having an extra roster space to invest on a young arm rather than continuing to rely on Mikolas to fill a void in their starting rotation.
2. RHP Ryan Helsley
Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley stands out among all the players who have been mentioned as potential trade candidates this winter. Helsley would be of interest to all 29 teams in the league, as bringing in a star closer like him is nearly priceless for major league teams.
Last season, Tanner Scott and Carlos Estevez were traded for massive prospect hauls. Helsley is undoubtedly far superior than these two arms, and he has an extra half-season on his deal compared to the other two closers. Helsley should bring the Cardinals more than the Los Angeles Angels did for Estevez, but perhaps less than the San Diego Padres received for Scott.
Helsley, 30, has ERAs of 2.04, 2.45, and 1.25 over the past three seasons. In 2024, he played 65 games and made 49 saves, both career highs. Helsley is among the National League’s most dominant relievers.
For the Cardinals, moving him would make sense. From this moment forward, his value will only drop. St. Louis has no plans to win or compete in the World Series while Helsley is with the Cardinals, so they would be better suited stockpiling prospects for him while they still have the opportunity.
1. RHP Sonny Gray
If there is one player who has regularly been linked to St. Louis trade rumors, it is starting pitcher Sonny Gray, who signed a large contract when he joined the team. Gray is nearing the conclusion of his career, and the Cardinals have no obvious route to winning while he is under contract, so keeping him until his deal expires makes little sense for either the Cardinals or Gray.
Gray, 35, is still a highly effective beginning pitcher. At best, he is an outstanding number two in a top-tier rotation. At worst, he ranks in the center of the pack. His career ERA is less than 4.00, which is consistent with his recent performance. Gray has a 3.84 ERA in his debut season with the Cardinals, but it could be his last.
The veteran righty’s contract includes a no-trade clause, meaning he could only be transferred if he approved the deal. Obviously, this tightens the market considerably, but it’s still a no-brainer that the Cardinals find a team to sign him.
Trading him would accomplish three things for the Cardinals. It would clear money off their books. It would bring in potential. And it would allow a top prospect like Tink Hence to join the big league rotation.
