The St. Louis Cardinals have reached an agreement with another former All-Star pitcher, this time signing Kyle Gibson.
USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale announced the deal is for one year and $12 million, with a team option for 2025.
The 36-year-old right-hander earned All-Star honors with the Texas Rangers in 2021, and went 15-9 with the Baltimore Orioles last season. But at this point in his career, the veteran is mainly useful as a bottom-of-the-rotation innings-eater. On a positive note, Gibson led MLB with 33 starts in 2023, and his 192 innings were just four off his career high.
Now for the ugly side: Gibson had a 4.73 ERA (4.13 FIP), 1.318 WHIP, and no one gave up more hits (198).
In short, Gibson can be useful, but he’s not the type of free agent signing that is going to get the fan base excited. It doesn’t help that the Cards made a similar deal Monday, signing former Cardinals star Lance Lynn to a one-year, $10 million deal.
Lynn, like Gibson, is 36, and had a 4.36 ERA in 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
We have signed RHP Lance Lynn and RHP Kyle Gibson to one-year contracts for the 2024 season. Both deals include a 2025 club option.
Lynn has been selected to two All-Star teams and was a member of our 2011 World Series championship team.
Gibson, who pitched at Mizzou, ranked in… pic.twitter.com/syiYk5eUkq
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) November 21, 2023
Cardinals fans who have been expecting more vented their frustration on X/Twitter.
They are basically giving the Cubs the division this is sad stuff
— Mike (@ChiSoxFanMike) November 21, 2023
1 ace and 4 #5 won't get you anywhere
— JoeInTheKnow (@JoeInTheKnow4) November 21, 2023
$23M committed to Lance Lynn & Kyle Gibson pic.twitter.com/j1qU3vACbr
— Ryan (@The_Ryan_Shull) November 21, 2023
The 2024 #STLCards rotation will now be anchored by the 2023 leaders in runs allowed (Miles Mikolas), hits allowed (Kyle Gibson), and home runs allowed (Lance Lynn). Thats incredible.
— TheBaseballGuy1 (@TheBaseballGuy1) November 21, 2023
unserious franchise
— will: JJ McCarthy Truther (@wrhiv_72) November 21, 2023