Predicting which St. Louis Cardinals get traded this offseason

Sonny Gray: Stay

The other veteran who has expressed interest in staying with the Cardinals is their big signing from last offseason, Sonny Gray.

While I think the Cardinals could get a lot in return for Gray and would still be wise to shop him if Gray is open to a move, him wanting to stay in St. Louis can be a very valuable thing for the club in 2025 and beyond.

Why? First, Gray is by far their most talented starter right now. While no one should be picking the Cardinals to be competing for the playoffs in 2025, Gray does make that possible, along with keeping Contreras. Gray belongs at the top of a rotation, and he can help the club win games throughout the year as they lean on their young guys.

Gray also can pour into the young starters that should be filling the Cardinals' rotation very soon. Andre Pallante and Michael McGreevy will be fixtures in the Cardinals rotation in 2025 and would benefit from continued guidance. Quinn Mathews, Tink Hence, Tekoah Roby, and Cooper Hjerpe should be coming soon (all on different timelines). Matthew Liberatore, Gordon Graceffo, Sem Robberse, Adam Kloffenstein, and Zack Thompson could make a difference as well.

Gray is a positive force in 2025, and if he could be a big part of their success in 2026 as well. Keeping Gray is a big win for the Cardinals.

Steven Matz: Traded

If the Cardinals keep Gray and Mikolas while trading Fedde, the club's rotation entering Spring Training would consist of Gray, Pallante, McGreevy, Mikolas, and one of those young starters I listed earlier. While there is no need to rush Mathews, Hence, Roby, or Hjerpe, the last five names I mentioned should provide enough pitching depth until those guys are ready.

This means they should be free to shop someone like Steven Matz to see if a club bites on the one-year, $12.5 million remaining on his contract. With the need for pitching all around baseball and just how manageable his deal is, there will be suitors, and the Cardinals expect to get calls on him. He's also shown the ability to make a difference out of the bullpen as well, which is meaningful versatility for a club acquiring him, and is concerned about what he will actually provide.

To a lesser extent than Mikolas, I don't the Cardinals have to trade Matz. He actually is a really interesting fit for this roster in 2025. If the young arms are not ready, Matz can slide into the rotation. If they are and the rotation is full, Matz can slide into the bullpen. But if a club is going to get them anything of value for him, they should, and probably will, pull the trigger.