The St. Louis Cardinals’ Miles Mikolas has already had a very difficult season.
John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations, pledged to make the St. Louis Cardinals younger this season. However, it is time for management to recognize that giving starts to 36-year-old righty Miles Mikolas seriously disrupts that strategy.
Mikolas is in the last season of a terrible three-year contract worth $55.75 million. When the management office saw the club was headed in the wrong way, Mozeliak’s plan to add a veteran presence to the faltering Cardinals starting rotation appeared to fall apart. Now that the emphasis is on the development of younger players, Mikolas is no longer a good match, and his 5.70 ERA scarcely supports his inclusion on this starting staff.
It’s time for the Cardinals to move on from Miles Mikolas
Sonny Gray informed Mozeliak that he wanted to remain with the Cardinals during this rebuilding phase, and he is still the team’s ace. Later this summer, Erick Fedde, who was acquired at the trade deadline the previous season, might be used as more trade bait. Young arms Matthew Liberatore and Andre Pallante are currently being given plenty of runaway, and while there have been some struggles, fans can appreciate seeing them develop with the team.
In the final season of his current deal with the Cardinals, Steven Matz is vacillating between starting and becoming a long reliever. He has graciously given up his rotation position to guys who could be a long-term part of St. Louis’ future.
Mikolas is 0-2 with an ERA of 5.70 over 23.2 innings in five games that he has started. Not exactly what you want from a seasoned starter, he has nine walks and 13 strikeouts. He could be better suited for a job similar to Matz’s, but that doesn’t seem to be a possibility.
The Cards do have an option at Triple-A Memphis, but manager Oli Marmol stated that the team is making do with what they have.
With spot starts at the conclusion of the previous season, Michael McGreevy made an impression on the Cardinals. However, the organization decided to let him grow in Memphis rather than start him in 2025. So far this year, he has started six games and is 3-1 with an ERA of 4.08 over 28.2 innings. He has allowed four home runs, 13 earned runs, and seven walks. In fact, he has 25 strikeouts. As his season goes on, he needs to get into a routine, but his ultimate objective should be to return to the St. Louis starting lineup.
Following a dismal 2024 season, Mikolas had wanted to do better for Cardinals supporters. He simply hasn’t shown up to be the seasoned leader this team requires. Fans shouldn’t be concerned about Mikolas’s position on the squad by the trade deadline. The Cardinals should move on now.
