The Cardinals do not plan on bringing veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt back in 2025, according to a report from The Athletic’s Katie Woo. Goldschmidt is scheduled to hit free agency this offseason, and while the club had previously been rumored to have interest in bringing him back for 2025, it now appears the club will part ways with the future Hall of Famer. For his part, Goldschmidt has made clear that he plans to continue his career into 2025.
Goldschmidt isn’t the only player expected to depart this offseason. According to Woo, it’s unlikely that any of the club’s pending free agents will return to the club next year as the club pivots towards a focus on bolstering its player development apparatus. Woo specifically noted that relievers Andrew Kittredge and Keynan Middleton are expected to land elsewhere this winter, though she emphasized it was not yet clear whether veteran starters Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson are included in the expected exodus. St. Louis holds identical $12MM club options on the duo’s services for next year, each with a $1MM buyout.
Woo also notes that a reduction to the major league payroll could be on the horizon as the club reinvests in player development, echoing a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale early today that indicated the Cardinals could shop veteran right-hander Sonny Gray as they look to cut payroll. Woo did not explicitly suggest that Gray will be shopped, but did list the right-hander among a handful of veteran Cardinals players whose futures with the club could be put “into question” by a drop in payroll this winter alongside third baseman Nolan Arenado, catcher Willson Contreras, and closer Ryan Helsley. MLBTR discussed Gray’s potential trade candidacy earlier today in conjunction with Nightengale’s report, which noted the Reds as a potential suitor for the veteran’s services.
If the Cardinals are going to look at shopping Gray this winter amid an effort to reduce payroll, it’s only natural that the club could entertain offers on a number of other high-priced veterans as well. Contreras, in particular, could be a sensible candidate for the club to move this winter. The 32-year-old backstop has been nothing short of phenomenal with the bat since he joined the Cardinals prior to the 2023 campaign, slashing an impressive .263/.367/.468 (133 wRC+) in 209 games with St. Louis as he’s sustained the offense breakout he enjoyed during his final season with the Cubs in 2022.
With that being said, not everything has gone well for Contreras since he joined the club. The veteran was temporarily moved off of catcher after just six weeks in the organization, only to be reinstated as the Cubs regular catcher shortly thereafter. Per Statcast’s Fielding Run Value, Contreras was worth -3 runs behind the plate last year that was his worst figure since 2019. Those defensive struggles behind the plate led the club’s coaches to suggest Contreras move closer to the plate while catching. The strategy seems to have worked to improve his defense at the position as his FRV improved to +0 this year, but it came at a substantial cost as the veteran suffered an arm fracture that required surgery earlier this year after being struck by a swing from Mets DH J.D. Martinez.
Given the Cardinals’ concerns regarding Contreras’s defense, the $54.5MM due to him over the next three seasons, and the presence of up-and-coming youngsters Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages ready to take on larger roles in the majors, it would hardly be a surprise if the Cardinals decided to listen to offers on the veteran catcher this offseason. Given his success at the plate over the past three years, it seems reasonable to expect that teams would have interest in the veteran’s services even if they joined in St. Louis’s suspicions regarding his defense behind the plate, as he could move to a first base or DH role fairly seamlessly if an acquiring club wanted to make such a switch. Of course, it’s also possible that there’s a club that either believes they can improve Contreras’s defense or is willing to sacrifice defensive value behind the plate in order to fit a middle-of-the-order bat into its lineup and would be happy to employ Contreras as a catcher as well.
Arenado, on the other hand, could be trickier for the club to move in the event they shop him. The 33-year-old future Hall of Famer opted in for the final five years and $144MM of his contract with the club prior to the 2023 season in a move that, at the time, was somewhat surprising. With that being said, the third baseman hasn’t looked like the MVP candidate he was earlier in his career over the two seasons since then. In 296 games with St. Louis over the past two seasons, Arenado has hit just .269/.320/.426. That’s still good for an above-average 104 wRC+ and, in conjunction with his strong but no longer elite defense at third base, has been good for 5.8 fWAR total over the past two years.
While that level of production still casts Arenado as a clearly valuable player even as he enters his mid 30s, it’s easy to imagine rival clubs balking at the idea of giving up significant prospect capital while also taking on the remaining three years and $74MM left on Arenado’s deal with the club, though it’s worth noting that the Rockies are paying down $5MM of that figure per year to reduce the total burden to just $59MM over three seasons.
Another factor that can’t be ignored is that Arenado, Contreras, and Gray all have full no-trade clauses at present, meaning any of them could block trades to any teams that they wish. That’s not necessarily always an obstacle to a trade, as players with no-trade protection will often waive those rights in the event that their teams wants to move on, but it does offer each veteran significant leverage in the event that the Cardinals look to move on from any of them. That leverage could be used to ensure they get traded to a preferred organization or in order to get additional financial incentives in exchange for waiving his no-trade clause, as Arenado did when he agreed to waive his no-trade clause to be dealt from the Rockies to the Cardinals in exchange for an additional year and $15MM added to the end of his contract.
None of those considerations apply to Helsley, who is set to go through arbitration for the third and final time this winter. He’s sure to garner a substantial raise over his $3.8MM salary from the 2024 season after a phenomenal year that’s seen the 30-year-old pitch to a 2.04 ERA (207 ERA+) with an eye-popping 38.2% strikeout rate and an MLB-best 49 saves in 66 1/3 innings of work this year. It’s the third consecutive dominant season for the righty, as he’s now posted a combined 1.83 ERA (227 ERA+) with a 2.35 FIP and 225 strikeouts and 82 saves in 167 2/3 innings of work since he broke out back in 2021.
Helsley should still come at a reasonable financial cost even after accounting for the pay bump he figures to receive this winter, and with a commitment of just one year it’s likely he could be among the most sought-after relief arms on the market this winter if the Cardinals were to make him available. With that being said, Helsley’s utter dominance this season and relatively affordable salary could mean that the Cardinals would prefer to hold onto their closer if they hope to remain competitive in 2025, particularly since he would likely be almost as valuable at the trade deadline next summer so long as he remains healthy and effective.
Circling back to Goldschmidt, the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer is now slated to become a free agent for the first time in his career come November. He’ll do some coming off the worst season of his career, having hit just .245/.301/.412 with a wRC+ of 99 in 153 games this year while setting a career high strikeout rate and a career low walk rate. That brutal platform campaign in conjunction with his age will surely keep Goldschmidt from garnering anything close to what top-of-the-class first basemen like Pete Alonso or even Christian Walker will in free agency this winter, but there’s still enough reason for optimism in his profile to imagine a club with a hole at first base giving the veteran an everyday job.
After all, he’s just two seasons removed from winning the NL MVP award with a dominant offensive performance, and it’s also worth noting that he improved as the season went on. From May 12 onward, Goldschmidt hit a respectable .262/.309/.462 with a 113 wRC+ in 491 trips to the plate. While that’s a far cry from the perennial All-Star he once was, even that level of production would be good for 13th among qualified first basemen this year, ahead of even well-regarded regulars like Ryan Mountcastle and Vinnie Pasquantino.
wrich
Why is he a lock to be in the Hall of Fame ? Don’t see it that way
Badfinger
Maybe not his first year of eligibility but I think he’ll eventually get in.
Fernando Ringworm Jr.
Why not in his first year of eligibility? If he’s good enough to get in what purpose does making him wait serve?
JohnnyMute
The greatest SS of all time, the greatest hitter of all time, and the player with the most home runs of all time wonder that too
Fernando Ringworm Jr.
Paul Goldschmidt hasn’t broken any rules.
Rsox
Please tell me you are not referring to ARod as the “greatest SS of all time”?
JohnnyMute
Modern era, no question
Samuel
LOL
No…
Modern era by rotisserie league standards.
rememberthecoop
He cheated.
seamaholic 2
Almost 60 fWAR. There’s almost no one with that many who isn’t in. Plus he’s super popular with the media.
Samuel
“Plus he’s super popular with the media.”
Read that and palm hit forehead.
Jabronie23
Nearly 60 career WAR, will probably finish with 400 HR’s, very good defender and base runner
rememberthecoop
He’s a lock. And I despise the Cardinals.
JoeBrady
Goldie or Votto?
Samuel
Yankees?
Samuel
Dodgers? (Maybe he can play 3B)
Nationals?
Cubs?
Mariners?
Any other desperate/inept FO heads/owners out there?
Big shocker!
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Cubs have Michael Busch who should win a gold glove this year but they’ll likely snub him.
rememberthecoop
Ok come on now. I’m a Cubs fan and Busch definitely improved but he’s is no GG’er
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
He absolutely is abd should be in the running for the Gold Glove.
matty kid
Hell to the F yeahyeah!
Mike56
Hate to see him go . Class guy but probably right thing to do. Hope he goes somewhere and has a chance to play in World Series before he retires
spudchukar
Katie Woo is a fairly reliable reporter, but I hope she is misinformed. Unlike most posters here, I don’t like the idea of many changes, simply because the current team is better than commenters believe. The Cards still have the best infield in Baseball. My biggest question is who could the Cards get that would make them a better team in 2025? Why mess with the best infield in Baseball. Sign Goldy to a team friendly 2 year deal, then in 2027 they can make changes.
fstop13
Best infield in baseball didn’t get them anywhere this year. And they are not looking at getting better next season necessarily. More want to cut payroll. And they could have on their roster already someone who can at least match what Goldschmidt did this year.
seamaholic 2
Will be fascinating where he ends up. Looked cooked about 2/3 of the way through the season, but then picked way up.
JohnnyMute
My Brewers will pick him up and he will destroy the St Louis White Sox next year.
screwball8
Your brewers? Your reds? Which is it!? Said my reds in the post about gray!
F ing trolls
JohnnyMute
I’m allowed to cheer for both.
You’re no longer allowed to read my posts.
Rsox
Muting him/her only means you can’t read their posts, not the other way around…
TeacherTim
The Cardinals need to take some of this money they’ll be saving and put it into player development. What players of consequence have they developed over the past 10 years?
mlb fan
A real class act. I wish him well.
SupremeZeus
Goldy, Goldy, Gone!! (Steve Berthiaume voice)
Blackpink in the area
I don’t understand the need to announce this. Either he wanted too much money or didn’t think the team was going to contend or both. Not a big deal he’s old and his time has come and gone. Heck I think most Cardinals fans would tell you they were more concerned with the team overpaying him rather than leaving.
Now time to move on from Carpenter, Lynn and Gibson too. The team doesn’t need a full rebuild but it has to get back to allowing young guys the chance to be successful in the bigs, especially the pitchers. Too reliant on old bums lately.
CardsFan57
I mean that everyone over 30 needs to be moved one way or another when I say rebuild. I would also move Helsley if they can get good value back. They won’t be contenders next year anyway.
Blackpink in the area
Helsley I would try to extend but if it doesn’t work out maybe trade him. I really dont think the team is that far off. The Cubs will find a way to lose more than they should. Milwaukee seems like a fluke. Team could contend next year.
JohnnyMute
Stick to scamming people over toys Latin boy
DonOsbourne
The first decision they’ve gotten right in a long, long time.
Best of luck Goldy!
Fernando Ringworm Jr.
Stupid for not trading him at the 2023 trade deadline. The “Cardinal Way” doesn’t work anymore.
DonOsbourne
There’s nothing wrong with the Cardinal Way. It has just been set aside in favor of “Mo’s Way”. They are not the same thing.
Samuel
Imagine Branch Rickey bringing on the catcher they have, and paying FA dollars to do it.
LOL
…and they’re stuck with that contract for 3 more years.
Blackpink in the area
The team was excellent as recently as 2022.
DonOsbourne
Not really. That team was pretty average other than Goldy, Arenado, and an unexpectedly resurgent Albert Pujols playing out of their minds. Mo’s been way more lucky than good.
Blackpink in the area
Had home field advantage against the Phillies. It was a good team. Average isn’t bad it’s average and a bunch of average players surrounded by MVP candidates makes for a good team.
JohnnyMute
“Excellent”
-One postseason win since 2019
Hang it up Joel Scumbag. You don’t know ball fella’
CardsFan57
It took the last of the MVP level play from Arenado and Goldschmidt in 2022. Even with that they were average had it not been for the shocking second half from Pujols. The team is out of gas at this point with no money to spend. Let the old guys eligible for free agency go and trade the rest for whatever prospects you can get.
Blackpink in the area
Gray is capable of pitching like an ace. Walker and Gorman can certainly play better than they did in 2024. The team isn’t that far off from being a contender. I agree young guys need to play but a full rebuild isn’t needed.
baseballpun
If they win today they’ll match the win total they had in 2006 when they won the world series.
I’m not saying this team is good enough to win the world series but they’re not the White Sox. Or even the Pirates. This is a slightly-above .500 team that got very little out of three guys in the offense who make a combined $80m.
Franky if they keep Gray and Helsley they could trade Nado and Contreras, find some cheaper guys to complement the roster and probably be at least as good even while cutting payroll.
If they do a real teardown they’re basically throwing away a bunch of guys they HAVE developed.
Fernando Ringworm Jr.
Who may I ask is taking Nolan or Contreras?
baseballpun
I don’t know. There are rumors that they could be available. I’m fine if they don’t trade either of them too.
CardsFan57
The thing to remember about Arenado is that Colorado will pay $5 million of his salary each of the next two years.
Fernando Ringworm Jr.
We know they are available. That’s not what I asked. I asked which other team is taking them. Why did you answer a question I never asked?
CardsFan57
Contreras is well worth his contract for a team needing a right handed middle of the order hitter. Arenado did have his worst year but I see him as a good bounce back candidate. He still under 35.
I’m not going to speculate which teams will take that chance. I will say that Seattle needs hitters to go with that championship level pitching.
baseballpun
Why the hell would I know who is going to trade for them? I don’t care who does, or if anyone does.
DonOsbourne
@basballpun
Check out 2007.
Domingo111
I wonder if the cardinals will go into a 2-3 year rebuild. They have been OK at developing hitters (although most of those where more average than really good, a lot of those .250-.275 with solid obp and 15 homers a year guys which is the typical cards hitter that they developed a lot over the last 15 years) but their pitching development really needs to step up.
The cards for too long sticked with a control the zone, pitch to contact approach when the league moved away from that. The ban of the shift probably put the last nail into the coffin of the contact pitcher.
The cards really need to get up to speed here.
Blackpink in the area
Developing pitchers really isn’t the problem. It’s allowing them to play once they are ready. Pallante had a good 2022 and was put in the pen for 2023. Liberatore has never had a legit chance. Thompson got jerked around left and right. McGreevy just repeated AAA. So did Graceffo. Kloffenstein is ready. Guys don’t get a chance to play because there are too many old veterans around.
Domingo111
Neither of them is good though.
Pallante has a 9% k-bb% for his career and a 92 stuff+. liberatore has a 10% k-bb for his career with a 91 stuff +. Thompsons k-bb is about average at 14% but terrible stuff+ at 76. Mcgreevy, kloffenstein and graceffo all have stuff+ in the 80s. Sample is small of course but they had mediocre k rates in the minors too.
Yes, cards do have good depth in pitching in the minors and young majors but they are all the same type, those 6-7 k/9, low stuff pitch to contact guys.
They need stuff, guys who strike out 25+% and have a 110+ stuff+ is what could be good front line starters. Those young guys are basically all #6 starters and not #2 or #3 starters like they need. Good to have those for depth but they probably won’t be impact arms.
Blackpink in the area
None of those guys will be impact arms? Nonsense dude. You are talking nonsense.
Robberse
Hjerpe
Hence
Matthews
They will all be ready by mid-season. Then Rajcic and Lin after that.
I will say it again the pitching is fine it just needs a chance to play.
hllywdjff
Perfect fit for the mariners 2/37
benhen77
Twins have a need at first, but not sure if the budget will allow for Goldy.
Crew2011
Dude rakes in Milwaukee. Please please pick him up. Let Hoskins go.
baseballpun
They can let Goldy go and trade Arenado and Contreras and I don’t think it will impact their competitiveness next year.
If they trade Helsley and Gray they’ll feel it on the field.
Blackpink in the area
Losing Arenado would hurt a bit. He’s not the guy he used to be but still a good player. Herrera could be dealt instead of Contreras. I wouldn’t trade Gray or Helsley losing either of them would take away the teams chance to contend in 2025
baseballpun
I’d like to keep Contreras if he wants to stay but he was hurt so much this year I don’t think losing him would have a huge impact year over year. If they keep him and he stays healthy he could make the team better next year.
If they move Gray or Helsley they’re throwing in the towel.
Rsox
Astros have spent much of this season with a gaping hole at 1B. Since they were willing to give Abreu a 3 year deal perhaps they would be willing to give Goldschmidt a similar deal
Warden of the North(acoss13)
Goldy is a bounce back candidate next season, just not sure where he’ll land, but probably a contending team. I don’t see him signing with a rebuilding team.
CardsFan57
I’d also keep in mind that he lives in Florida. Tampa might be able to sign him to a reasonable contract.
sidewinder11
If Arizona doesn’t resign Christian Walker, I’d be happy to see Goldy sign a 1 year deal there and finish his career with the DBacks.
Tom Timebomb
Being really generous with the “future hall of fame” label in this article, are Goldschmidt and Arenado really there yet?
Samuel
Tom;
A guy has 2 good years and he’s referred to as a “Superstar”.
Mike56
Houston could be his destination. Lived there as a kid. He was a Astros fan. D’Backs maybe also
positively_broad_st
I can see Goldy going back to Arizona or one of the teams in Texas…
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
Goldschmidt would be a good veteran voice for a young Nats team if it’s a 2 year deal.
Contreras to Seattle, let him and Raleigh split C and most DH duties to reduce their wear and tear. Seattle can afford to send a pitching prospect or two to St. Louis.
Longtimecoming
Assuming Kim leaves, I can live with Goldie at 1b (with Arraez DH / 1b split); Cro at 2b and Bog back at SS for 2025. Bring back Solano for same role as 24.
Can’t sign a long term 1b, SS and LF and they will need them all if Bog returns to 2b and Cro at 1b.
A short term, last good year of a career guy like Goldie buys a little time to extend the window without a lot of money alotted.
BirdieMan
So who plays 1B if Goldy leaves?
positively_broad_st
Burleson…
Reynaldo's
“Team to no longer employ a player that is no longer under contract.”. Why is this significant?
DonOsbourne
I don’t understand why rebuild is such a bad word. I’m not talking about a 3-5 year tank. I’m talking about getting rid of the expensive, declining veterans, resetting the payroll, and re-allocating the money to the player development system. Yes, it would signal that 2025 is not intended to be a competitive season. But really, with a little improvement from a few young guys, they could realistically hang around .500 again.
I would be much happier watching young players go through growing pains, knowing there is hope on the horizon, than watch aging vets struggle to relive their primes.
I said many times before and during this season that 2026 was our next chance to contend. Mo went out of his way to prove me right.
positively_broad_st
The Cardinals don’t need to spend less. They need to return to be really good at developing young players and be better at building their roster…