Keynan

Middleton

Middleton has a $1 million buyout in his contract and will now be a free agent after missing all of the 2024 season while recovering from injury. He posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 64/23 K/BB in 50 2/3 innings back in 2023 but suffered a forearm injury at the start of the 2024 season and underwent surgery in June. He plans to be fully healthy by spring training but will likely have to prove that to teams before anybody signs him to another contract.

The procedural move opens up a spot on St. Louis’ 40-man roster for rookie catcher Nick Raposo. Middleton is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing flexor tendon surgery earlier this month. The 30-year-old reliever figures to become a free agent at the end of the season after never throwing a pitch in a Cardinals uniform.

Middleton inked a one-year, $6 million pact with St. Louis back in February and never wound up throwing a pitch this season in the majors. The 30-year-old opted for the season-ending procedure after several setbacks in his rehabilitation process. He should be fully healthy entering next spring and will most likely wind up somewhere else as a free agent.

Middleton signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Cardinals back in early February and won’t end up throwing a pitch this season for the club. The 30-year-old righty landed on the shelf back in mid-March with a forearm strain and suffered multiple setbacks over the last few months before ultimately opting for season-ending surgery.

Middleton suffered a setback in his rehab assignment, and the right-hander has undergone imaging to see the severity of the injury to his flexor strain. The 30-year-old has no timetable for a return to the St. Louis bullpen, but obviously the first opinion suggests this is a long-term issue for Middleton.

It’s yet another setback for Middleton, who has yet to throw a pitch this season for St. Louis after signing as a free agent. The 30-year-old righty started a minor league rehab assignment earlier this month, but appears to still be dealing with flexor tendon pain. There is no timetable for his return at the moment.

Middleton has been out of action since before the start of the season with a forearm strain. The right-hander will likely need to make a handful of appearances in the minors, but he could be pitching in the middle innings for the Cardinals by the end of May.

Middleton told reporters after the session that he’s tracking towards beginning a rehab assignment. The 30-year-old has been out since the middle of March because of his right forearm strain, and it sounds like he could be an option in the middle innings for the Cardinals by the end of the month.

It’s not being labeled a setback, but Middleton had a planned throwing session scrapped earlier this week and remains without a definitive return timetable. The 30-year-old righty has been on the shelf since mid-March due to a right forearm strain, which can sometimes be a precursor to more significant arm issues.

Middleton was placed on the 15-day IL on March 27 with a right forearm flexor strain. While he’s not viewed as being close to a return, the fact he’ll begin working from a mound is a step in the right direction. The Cardinals signed Middleton to a one-year, $6 million earlier this offseason after he posted an ERA of 3.38 and a 64/23 K/BB ratio in 2023. Once healthy, Middleton is expected to serve as the setup man for Ryan Helsley.