Right-handed starter was expected to rebound in 2024 after a challenging 2023 season. Following a brief period in Japan from 2015 to 2018, he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals and received a contract extension in the 2022-2023 offseason based on his previous successes in 2018 and 2022.
However, 2023 didn’t meet Mikolas’s expectations. He ended the season with a 9-13 record, a 4.78 ERA, and led the league with 226 hits and 107 runs allowed. Despite making 35 starts and exceeding 200 innings, his performance was subpar.
Heading into 2024, there was optimism that Mikolas could regain his past form. Historically reliable, he was known for consistently making at least 30 starts each season, though the effectiveness of those outings had been declining.
In 2024, Mikolas finished with a 10-11 record, a 5.35 ERA, and a 4.24 FIP over 32 starts and 171.2 innings. His ERA ranked among the worst in baseball, just ahead of Patrick Corbin of the Washington Nationals and Griffin Canning of the Los Angeles Angels. Despite these struggles, the Cardinals remained committed to starting him every five days.
With several pitching options like Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Andre Pallante, Michael McGreevy, and Steven Matz, the Cardinals might not need Mikolas in their 2025 rotation.
They could also opt to bring back Kyle Gibson or Lance Lynn through club options, and prospects such as Zack Thompson, Sem Robberse, Drew Rom, and Quinn Mathews provide additional depth. Therefore, releasing Mikolas could be a logical decision.
While cutting a veteran with a guaranteed contract may seem uncharacteristic for the Cardinals, there have been similar precedents in recent years.
In 2016, the Cardinals signed Mike Leake to a five-year, $80 million deal but opted to trade him midway through 2017 after his performance faltered, sending him to the Seattle Mariners along with $17 million to help cover his contract.
In another instance, the Cardinals traded outfielder Dexter Fowler to the Los Angeles Angels in the 2020-2021 offseason, also offsetting part of his contract.
Mikolas is set to earn just over $18.5 million in 2025. While trading him might require additional prospects or financial compensation, the Cardinals have a history of making such moves.
The emergence of prospect Quinn Mathews, who has progressed rapidly through the minors, makes a trade even more appealing, as it would free up a rotation spot for him. Overall, moving Mikolas, regardless of the cost, could be a prudent decision for the team at this stage.
