Every year, or at least every year since 2012, we’ve taken some time after the season was over to look at the past 162 games through the lens of the players that played them (and the management that was in charge of them). Last year, the Exit Interview series spent less time digging into splits and finding numerical oddities and more time reflecting on the player and their season. It was a style that seemed to work so we’re going to bring it back again this year. The legendary cardinalsgifs is back to bring us excellent series art, so it’s all downhill after you see that!
Player: Kyle Gibson
Stats: 8-8, 30 G, 169.2 IP, 161 H, 23 HR, 68 BB, 151 K, 4.24 ERA, 4.42 FIP, 1.350 WHIP, 0.9 bWAR
Statcast: 9.2% barrel, 34.3% sweet spot, 112.7 max exit velocity, .323 wOBA, .342 xwOBA, 20.9 K%, 9.4 BB%
Grade: C
If we had done ratings about mid-season, Gibson probably would have been sitting up there in the A/high B range. After 14 starts, he had a 3.44 ERA and was coming off a seven scoreless inning outing against the Cubs. He’d had a couple of blowups but for the most part he was keeping runs to a minimum, being the more effective mid-rotation veteran signed in the winter. Given Sonny Gray’s injuries and rough stretch, at that point you could argue he was the best pitcher on the staff. Which is not ideal, obviously, but he’d earned the discussion.
Unsurprisingly, though, it didn’t last. After that high point he had a 5.02 ERA the rest of the way with opposing hitters putting up almost an .800 OPS. He had less than a strikeout an inning and it’s probably not a coincidence that the slide of the team started around that point. Players are usually going to find their level and that’s what Gibson did. He did make every start and provided some innings, which is what he was signed for. It wasn’t inspiring, it wasn’t overwhelming, but it probably would have been more effective had the offense been as strong as expected.
What’s in store for 2025: There’s an argument for bringing Gibson back for his $12 club option. He gives the rotation some innings and stability, especially if there are young arms populating the rest of it. He did what he was hired to do. However, given the change in direction of the front office and the weaker second half, I think it’s more likely they’ll decline the option and he’ll find work with another team needing a veteran arm. (And, since this was prepared, that’s exactly what the Cardinals did.)
