Ranking the 10 worst contracts in the National League Central Division

5) Steven Matz

Contract Remaining after 2024: One year, $12.5M

Another Cardinal that makes the list of worst contracts is pitcher Steven Matz, who was signed to a four-year, $44M contract in the 2022 offseason.

Since signing Matz has not been able to put together a full season due to injuries, even though he closed out 2023 strong posting a 3.86 ERA in 25 games with the Cardinals.

Matz has only thrown a combined 191.1 innings as a member of the Cardinals, with only 12 games remaining in the 2024 season to add to that total.

Matz made six starts to begin the 2024 season before falling victim to a lower back strain that has kept him out until recently. He made one start in his return but has now been relegated to the bullpen, where he has been slightly more effective.

In his new role in the bullpen, Matz's contract would slot him in as the sixth-highest-paid reliever in the MLB.

With his durability being a major question mark, the shift to the bullpen is likely the Cardinals being safe with him as they close out another disappointing season, with the hopes of him opening the 2025 season as a piece of their rotation.

2025 will be the last chance Matz has to right the ship, but his tenure with the Cardinals is looking like yet another free-agent disappointment in their recent history.