Predicting the St. Louis Cardinals' 2025 starting rotation

Probable Candidates - Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz

Here is where we see the Cardinals cornering themselves with bad contracts. Neither Miles Mikolas nor Steven Matz have done anything these past two years to prove they're worthy of a spot in the 2025 rotation. Matz has been unable to be healthy since he signed with the Cardinals, and Mikolas has consistently taken the Cardinals out of contention in games in which he's started.

Throw in the fact that these two will make a combined $31 million next year, and you see how awful their contracts have become.

But the Cardinals are loyal to a fault. By virtue of them being veterans who are owed a boatload of cash, Matz and Mikolas will probably receive the final two rotation spots for next year. This, in theory, completes the exercise, but I have hope that the organization will be wise with both players. Steven Matz has thrived out of the bullpen these past two seasons, so using him as a long relief guy or someone who can mop up bad starts on occasion may be his best role next year. His finished 2023 with a 2.81 as a reliever, and he's already back in this role next year. He'll be a pricey reliever, but that's the result of distributing large contracts to players with an injury history.

Miles Mikolas, on the other hand, should probably be off the team this winter regardless of what it takes to move him. Mikolas, despite being in line to once again receive a full slate of starts this year, has been terrible. He has a 5.27 ERA in 153.2 innings pitched. Last year, Mikolas led the league in hits allowed and earned runs. He shouldn't be in the rotation, let alone on the team, in 2025.

Just like that, we've moved two potential starters out of the rotation. If neither of those moves happens, the rotation will be set with Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Andre Pallante, Steven Matz, and Miles Mikolas. That isn't a group that will lead a team to success. Therefore, Matz needs to be moved to the bullpen, and Mikolas should be removed from the team one way or another.