Predicting the fates of 7 Cardinals players, 2 coaches, and 1 executive after 2024

Kyle Gibson's club option won't be exercised for next year.

The St. Louis Cardinals signed Kyle Gibson this past offseason due to his reliability and his veteran presence. The now-36-year-old starter had pitched more than 160 innings in a season in the last five seasons (2020 excluded), and he had seen the playoffs with teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins throughout his career.

St. Louis signed him to a one-year deal with a club option for 2025 worth $12 million. That's a fine total for a starting pitcher, but it feels a bit steep for an organization that intends on cutting payroll these next two years. The Cardinals have several young players who could at least duplicate Gibson's output for a fraction of the price.

This year, Gibson started off strong. Through July 31st, Gibson had a 3.97 ERA, a 4.16 FIP, and a 134 WHIP in 113.1 innings. He was the second-best pitcher on the staff to only Sonny Gray. Since August, however, Gibson has struggled mightily. He has a 4.63 ERA, a 4.28 FIP, and a 1.43 WHIP in 72 innings. He's no longer a reliable innings eater.

If the Cardinals intend on getting younger next year across the roster, they need to move on from Kyle Gibson. His contract, along with ones that were given out to Lance Lynn, Matt Carpenter, and Keynan Middleton, has allowed the team to move on easily from him. The organization should do just that this offseason rather than accepting Gibson's option. If anything, they should reinvest his money on a starter a tier above him like Michael Wacha or Sean Manaea.

This is simply my prediction for Kyle Gibson. I would not be surprised one bit to see the Cardinals accept his option since he's a known commodity and a guy who will pitch at least 150 innings with an ERA around 4.50 in any given season.