A comprehensive look at the St. Louis Cardinals' 2025 free agents

After a hefty retooling this offseason, John Mozeliak may have to repeat this process once again next winter. In total, the Cardinals have 16 players who can become free agents next year. 4 players have club options attached to them, so it is possible those options are exercised and the player remains on the team next year.

In addition to these 8 potential free agents, 8 additional players will be eligible to receive payments via the arbitration process. While these arbitration figures won't be as restrictive financially as free agents, the contracts still require additional contemplation. The non-tendering of Juan Yepez, Andrew Knizner, Dakota Hudson, and Jake Woodford this past offseason granted the Cardinals financial flexibility to go out and sign other free agents.

Let's take a look at these various groups of free agents and parce out what will become of them in 2025.

Group 1: Fully-fledged free agents

This group has players who are guaranteed to become free agents barring a contract extension. Either they are in their final year of arbitration in 2024, or their contract will expire at the end of the season.

Paul Goldschmidt

Foremost of these players is Paul Goldschmidt. Goldy, now 36, is entering the final year of his 5-year, $130 million extension he signed in March of 2019. He will be paid $26 million this year. Altogether, his extension and tenure in St. Louis has been fantastic. He has been a cornerstone for multiple playoff appearances, and he brought home an MVP trophy in 2022.

Goldschmidt is a candidate for an extension, and if he signs one, he can finish his Hall of Fame-worthy career in St. Louis.

Andrew Kittredge

The Cardinals acquired Andrew Kittredge via trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. St. Louis shipped out a young budding player in Richie Palacios for the veteran All-Star reliever. Kittredge will provide depth and late-inning experience to a retooled bullpen. He is being paid $2,262,500 via arbitration in 2024. He will be eligible for a qualifying offer this season, but that route is rarely if ever taken with relievers.

Kittredge, 34, could be a candidate for a contract extension if he pitches well this year, but given the annual volatility of relievers, St. Louis will likely let him walk and test the market in 2025.

Brandon Crawford and Matt Carpenter

These two players have been linked together recently. Both are left-handed bench veterans who will help lead the team in the clubhouse. St. Louis inked Carpenter to a 1-year, $740,000 deal early in the offseason, and Crawford recently signed a 1-year, $2 million contract.

Given the advanced age of both players, these deals will likely be "one-and-done" contracts. I don't suspect either Brandon Crawford or Matt Carpenter to be on next year's roster.

Group 2: Players with options

These 4 players have club options attached to them next year. Most of them were signed this offseason. Each of these options is a club option, so the Cardinals hold the power in these instances.

Kyle Gibson

Kyle Gibson was signed to a one-year deal worth $13 million with a club option for 2025 worth $12 million. The acceptance or declination of his contract, similar to the other players, depends solely on his performance and health next year. Gibson will be 37 all of next season; his contract is relatively pricey. If Gibson pitches a decent amount of innings this year with a solid ERA, his option will be accepted. If he struggles or shows signs of aging, his option will not be accepted by the team.

Lance Lynn

Rinse and repeat for Lance Lynn. He signed a 1-year deal as well worth $11 million with a club option in 2025. He will earn $10 million in 2024 with a $1 million buyout. If his option is exercised, he will be paid $12 million next year. Lynn turns 37 this season, so he is very near the end of his career. I wouldn't be surprised to see him enter the market next year. If he has a season similar to last year's, there's a probability the Cardinals won't activate his club option.

Keynan Middleton

Keynan Middleton was brought on via free agency this year. He will be paid $5 million in 2024 with a $6 million option for 2025. Middleton will slot into the heart of the bullpen with the potential to pitch late in games. As far as reliever salaries go, $6 million is pretty manageable, so it is possible the Cardinals pick up his option for next year. The exercising of his option will depend solely on his performance next year. If the team doesn't accept his option, Middleton will become a free agent.

Giovanny Gallegos

Giovanny Gallegos signed a 2-year, $11 million extension in October 2022 to buy out some arbitration years. It included a club option for 2025. Gallegos will be 32 for the bulk of this season. His option for next year will be valued at $6.5 million, another moderate salary, even for a reliever. Gallegos struggled in 2023, but he has a track record of success. If the right-handed reliever can return to form next year, the Cardinals should absolutely exercise his club option.

Group #3: Arbitration-eligible players

These 4 players have already started the arbitration process. While teams prefer keeping players on the roster during these precious years for cost-controlling purposes, there is always the potential at least one player isn't tendered a contract during arbitration, thus allowing him to become a free agent.

Ryan Helsley

Ryan Helsley has one more year of arbitration before becoming a free agent in 2026. He signed a 1-year deal worth $3.8 million this offseason via arbitration. He has been the team's primary closer when healthy for 2 years now, and he is looking to assume that role once again in 2024. A strong season should bode well for Helsley, and he will be extended a contract assuming he is healthy.

If Helsley experiences more injuries, particularly long-term ones, there is a small chance he won't be given a contract through the arbitration process next year. He is also a candidate for a long-term extension if he proves his viability in the back end of the bullpen once again in 2024.

Dylan Carlson

Dylan Carlson has two more years of arbitration eligibility. He is making $2.35 million in his first year of arbitration. Carlson, 25, has had a bit of a disappointing career up to this point after a successful rookie campaign in 2021. With Tommy Edman's injury, it is possible Carlson starts the season as the team's primary center fielder.

Carlson's trade value is quite high still, so even if he has a down year in 2024, the probability of him being traded rather than non-tendered a contract is greater. If he underperforms, a trade similar to that of Tyler O'Neill this offseason seems possible.

JoJo Romero

JoJo Romero had a strong season last year, vaulting himself into the discussion for a role at the back end of the bullpen. He had a 3.68 ERA in 36.2 innings with three saves and 42 strikeouts. Romero became the de facto closer once Helsley went down with an injury.

This is Romero's first year in the arbitration process, and he agreed to a contract valued at $860,000. His chances of being non-tendered next season are greater than Ryan Helsley's, but if Romero can continue to provide good innings out of the bullpen, the Cardinals will happily give him a contract next year of around $2-4 million. He will experience a salary increase in his second year of arbitration.

John King

The final player who is eligible for arbitration this year is John King. The Cardinals acquired King, 29, in a deal with the Texas Rangers for Jordan Montgomery. King has the potential to be a good reliever, and the southpaw could make the roster out of spring.

He is making just over $1 million in 2024, and he was granted a fourth season of arbitration due to his Super 2 status. He won't be a free agent until 2028. If John King underperforms or toils in the minors this year, it's possible he won't be given a contract via arbitration next year.