photo: Kyle Gibson (Mitch Stringer/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals and veteran right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson have come to terms on a one-year contract for $12 million with a 2025 option, guaranteeing him at least $13 million. First to report the deal was Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY.
Several days later, the Associated Press shared the contract details. Gibson can receive $500,000 annually in bonus if he reaches 175 innings pitched. His salary is $12 million both years, with a $1 million club buyout if they do not want to exercise year two. Gibson will also receive $1 million if traded.
Gibson is the second 36-year-old innings-eater from Indiana picked up by the Cardinals in the last two days, joining former but returning Cardinal Lance Lynn. As a product of the University of Missouri, Gibson should also have special appeal to a segment of ticket buyers.
Gibson reached the majors in 2013 with Minnesota and pitched for the Twins for seven years. He then moved on to Texas, Philadelphia and Baltimore. His 2023 club was the Orioles, for whom he made 33 starts totaling 192 innings with a 4.73 ERA. That is slightly above his 4.54 career ERA. Last season, Gibson posted a low 7.4 per nine innings strikeout rate, with a walk rate of 2.6 per nine. His 198 hits allowed led the American League in 2023.
Gibson’s durability has to be appealing to the Cardinals. Excluding the COVID-shortened 2020, he made at least 25 starts in nine of the last 10 seasons. On the other hand, as is the case with Lynn, there seems little upside at this late stage of Gibson’s career.
The net of the Cardinals rotation changes to date is that Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty and Adam Wainwright from 2023 have been replaced by Gibson, Lynn and a pitcher to be determined for 2024.
It remains to be seen what kind of pitcher the Cardinals add as the third outsider they had planned to bring in this offseason. At this point, a major gap at the top of the rotation remains.
Among the club’s tentative 2024 starters, Gibson is expected to join Lynn, Steven Matz and Miles Mikolas, all of whom have questions of their own. Lynn led MLB in home runs allowed last season (44), Matz was moved to the bullpen for part of 2023 due to ineffectiveness and Mikolas was MLB’s hits allowed leader last season (226).
Once Gibson’s signing is official, the Cardinals’ 40-man roster will be at 38 players.
Other news
The club announced it has signed right-handed relief pitcher Wilking Rodriguez to a minor league contract with a spring training camp invitation. The 33-year-old, a Rule 5 selection from the Yankees last December, cleared waivers and became a free agent eight days ago.
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