Heading into the season, many around the league anticipated the St. Louis Cardinals would be sellers at the trade deadline as they looked to initiate a modest rebuild. Even though the team is now well above .500, opposing clubs have continued to monitor the availability of starting pitchers.
However, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, neither pitcher is expected to be moved this summer. There has been widespread interest from rival teams.
Now in his age-35 season, top star continues to deliver solid performances for the St. Louis Cardinals. While his 3.80 ERA over the past two seasons isn’t dominant, he’s maintained strong overall numbers, including a 1.12 WHIP and holding opposing hitters to a .239/.284/.403 slash line across 251 innings in a Cardinals uniform.
Gray appears poised to remain in St. Louis for the foreseeable future. He’s earning \$25 million this season and is set to make \$35 million in 2026. The Cardinals also hold a \$30 million club option for 2027, which includes a \$9 million buyout.
At 36 years old and in the final year of his contract, Miles Mikolas initially appeared to be a more likely trade candidate for the Cardinals. However, his durability and recent improvement on the mound have made him a valuable asset the team intends to keep. While he’s posted a 4.93 ERA over 445.1 innings since the start of the 2023 season, Mikolas has turned things around lately, recording a 3.50 ERA over his last 12 starts, spanning 64.1 innings.
Along with Mikolas and Sonny Gray, St. Louis also plans to hold onto veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado. Entering Sunday on a five-game winning streak, the Cardinals are firmly in the playoff hunt, battling the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres for the final National League wild card spot.