According to The Athletic’s Katie Woo, the St. Louis Cardinals do not plan on bringing back veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt for the 2025 season. Goldschmidt, who is set to hit free agency this offseason, will be moving on from the club after a distinguished tenure in St. Louis. Though there had been rumors the Cardinals might extend the future Hall of Famer, the franchise appears ready to part ways and turn its focus toward younger players and player development.
Goldschmidt, who has made clear his intentions to continue playing into 2025, isn’t the only veteran expected to depart. Woo reports that the club’s upcoming free agents, including relievers Andrew Kittredge and Keynan Middleton, are likely to move on as well. Questions loom over the futures of starters Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson, both of whom have $12 million club options for 2025.
The potential roster shake-up doesn’t stop there. A report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale suggests that the Cardinals may look to reduce payroll by trading high-priced veterans like Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, and Willson Contreras. While Woo did not confirm whether the Cardinals plan to shop Gray, she did highlight him, alongside Arenado and Contreras, as players whose futures could be “in question” due to a possible payroll reduction.
If Gray is made available, it’s logical to assume other veteran stars might be on the block as well. Contreras, in particular, could be an intriguing trade candidate given his consistent offensive performance but lingering defensive questions. Arenado’s contract could make moving him more complicated, but with the Cardinals seemingly focused on restructuring their payroll and player development pipeline, nothing appears off the table.
Goldschmidt’s pending free agency, alongside potential trades of other key players, signals a new era for the Cardinals, as they prepare to pivot toward a youth movement and long-term roster reconfiguration.
