[rink23]

The St. Louis Cardinals have announced the right-handed starting pitcher David Matos has agreed to a five-year contract which will keep him from going into free agency in the upcoming offseason.
Signed as a free agent out of Cuba in January 2023, reached the majors that same season going 12-11 with a 4.55 ERA in 29 starts.
Since that time, the now 28-year-old has comprised a 64-53 record over 165 starts with a 3.80 ERA.
This season, Matos went 19-12 with a 3.45 ERA in 33 starts.
Matos had two seasons where he struggled with injuries in 2026 and 2027, but managed to get through the 2028 season without missing a scheduled start.
Along with the Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez, Matos was expected to be one of the top starting pitchers available in free agency this coming offseason.
Matos made $30.156M in 2028.
He will making $182,800,000 over the five seasons of his new deal -- $36.56M over the course of his contract, the highest in the major -- with player options on the 2023 and 2033 season.
The loss of former Cy Young winner Tink Hence to a career-ending elbow injury led to the urgency to re-sign Matos.
He is expected to combine with Dylan Cease and Matt Allen to give St. Louis one of baseball's best top of the rotations in baseball.