The St. Louis Cardinals could be seeing some serious roster shakeup here soon.
The St. Louis Cardinals find themselves in a challenging position. Although they have ample reason to begin a full rebuild, the front office has resisted this approach in recent years. As a result, the roster is now packed with veterans who are likely overpaid. However, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has an opportunity to correct some past mistakes during his final season in his current role.
The anticipated rebuild is already underway, and St. Louis plans to make additional moves in the coming weeks to continue reworking the roster. In fact, after the winter meetings, several players may be nearing the end of their time in St. Louis.
After the winter meetings, which players will not return to St. Louis, and why?
3. RHP Miles Mikolas
The St. Louis Cardinals have repeated a costly error by signing veteran pitchers to contracts exceeding $15 million per year, even though their performance has been average. This approach has filled starting rotation spots with older pitchers, while promising young talent remains in the minor leagues without opportunities.
A prime example of this strategy is veteran starter Miles Mikolas, set to earn $18.5 million in 2025. At 36, Mikolas is well past his peak. Last season, he pitched 171.2 innings in 32 starts, but with a 5.35 ERA and 11 losses, he posted a negative WAR. In fact, Mikolas has recorded double-digit losses in four of his six seasons with the Cardinals.
The Cardinals would benefit from trading him, even if they have to cover part of his salary. Opening a roster spot for a young pitcher would be more advantageous than allowing Mikolas to occupy a place in the starting rotation.
2. RHP Ryan Helsley
Among all the players rumored as trade candidates this offseason, Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley stands out. Helsley would attract interest from every team, as a star closer like him is incredibly valuable in the major leagues.
Last season, trades for relievers like Tanner Scott and Carlos Estevez brought significant prospect returns. Helsley is arguably a stronger pitcher than both and has an additional half-season left on his contract compared to them. This should allow the Cardinals to secure more in return than the Angels did for Estevez, though perhaps slightly less than what the Padres received for Scott.
At 30, Helsley has put up impressive ERAs of 2.04, 2.45, and 1.25 over the past three seasons. He set career highs in 2024, appearing in 65 games and recording 49 saves. Helsley is among the most dominant relievers in the National League.
For the Cardinals, trading Helsley would make sense. His value is likely at its peak, and with no clear path to contention in the near term, St. Louis would benefit from acquiring prospects for him while they can.
1. RHP Sonny Gray
If there’s one player who has repeatedly surfaced in St. Louis’ trade discussions, it’s starting pitcher Sonny Gray, signed to a hefty contract upon joining the team. Now in the latter part of his career, Gray finds himself on a team with no clear path to contention during his contract, making it illogical for either side to see out the full term.
Gray, 35, remains a solid rotation option. At his best, he’s an elite number two starter, and at his floor, he’s a reliable mid-rotation arm. With a career ERA under 4.00, he’s maintained his consistency, shown by a 3.84 ERA in his first season with the Cardinals—which might also be his last.
Gray’s contract includes a no-trade clause, meaning he would need to approve any deal, adding a challenge to the market. However, it’s still clear the Cardinals should explore trading him.
Dealing Gray would accomplish three key things for the Cardinals: it would free up payroll, bring in prospects, and open a rotation spot for a promising talent like Tink Hence to make his big-league debut.
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