Why the Worcester class was not chosen for missile conversion

The Worcester-class cruisers offered a different gun arrangement, but conversion cost and their current employment made the Cleveland hulls the more practical missile-cruiser candidates.

Question

Why did the US Navy convert Cleveland-class cruisers into missile ships rather than the Worcester class?

Short answer

The conversion cost and the Worcesters' existing employment made the Cleveland hulls the more practical ships to rebuild.

Notes

The exchange treats missile conversion as a fleet-management decision rather than a simple contest over which hull was newest. Taking a Worcester out of service would sacrifice the role it was already performing while also paying for a substantial reconstruction. The Cleveland conversions therefore reflected availability, cost, and the Navy's intended use for each class. The answer is cautious, but it points readers toward the institutional constraints behind apparently inconsistent modernization choices.