The St. Louis Cardinals are staring down the barrel of a lost season, and the writing’s on the wall: it’s time to start planning for tomorrow.

With the playoffs well out of reach and September underway, the focus in St. Louis has shifted from salvaging 2025 to setting the stage for 2026 and beyond.

One of the most pressing questions looming over the front office is what to do with veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas. The 37-year-old is in the final year of his contract, and by all indications, a return next season isn’t on the table. His recent performance hasn’t exactly made a compelling case to keep him around either.

After earning All-Star nods in 2018 and again in 2022, Mikolas signed a second contract extension ahead of the 2023 season. But since then, things have taken a sharp downward turn.

He posted a 4.78 ERA in 2023, followed by an even rougher 5.35 mark in 2024. And if the Cardinals were hoping for a late-career rebound in 2025, that never came – Mikolas is currently sitting on a 5.17 ERA in what’s shaping up to be his swan song in St.

Louis.

The reality? There’s little upside in keeping Mikolas in the rotation for the final stretch.

His contract is already on the books, so whether he’s pitching or not, the cost is sunk. But more importantly, his presence on the roster is blocking potential innings for the next wave of Cardinals arms – and that’s where the real opportunity lies.

Down in Triple-A Memphis, lefty Quinn Mathews has been making noise. Along with right-handers Tink Hence and Tekoah Roby, the Cardinals have a trio of young, promising arms itching for their shot at the big leagues. These are the names that could define the next era of Cardinals baseball – and giving them a taste of major league action in September could pay dividends down the road.

Waiving Mikolas now would open the door for one (or more) of those arms to step into a low-pressure environment and start building experience. It’s the kind of move that signals a clear shift in priorities: from clinging to the past to investing in the future.

This isn’t about blaming Mikolas. He’s had strong moments in a Cardinals uniform and was a key part of multiple playoff teams.

But right now, the Cardinals need to think long-term. Every roster spot, every inning, and every decision from here on out should be about development, evaluation, and laying the groundwork for a return to contention.

The Cardinals have decisions to make – not just about Mikolas, but across the roster. September won’t fix what’s already broken, but it can be the start of something new. And for a fanbase used to winning, that future can’t come soon enough.