Mikolas’ contract extension helps Cardinals shore up rotation beyond 2023
With only one guaranteed starting pitcher under contract for 2024 at the start of spring training, one of the lingering mysteries around Cardinals camp was how the team would take action to stabilize its staff in future years.
That mystery was, in part, solved on Friday. The club announced that it has agreed to a contract extension with starter Miles Mikolas, as first confirmed by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported the deal is for two years and $40 million.
Mikolas, 34, is 41-34 with a 3.46 ERA in 105 starts since the beginning of the 2018 season. He missed the truncated 2020 season and the majority of 2021 with a flexor tendon injury in his throwing elbow, but has twice been named to the All-Star game and finished sixth in Cy Young Award voting in 2018, his first season in St. Louis.
With the recent injury to Adam Wainwright,MLB announced today that Mikolas is also on track to start opening day for the Cardinals. It is his second assignment in that role, following 2019.
His injury-shortened seasons aside, Mikolas has been an essential pillar of the pitching staff since returning to MLB from Japan as a free agent. In averaging almost exactly six innings per start while utilizing a full five pitch mix, he’s often been a barrier against eroding bullpen performance while offering the necessary confidence and swagger to pitch at the head of the rotation.
A native of Jupiter, Florida, Mikolas spent days during his high school career sneaking away to catch Cardinals spring training action and had opportunities to play on the field at Roger Dean Stadium. Now, as a professional, another extension with the Cardinals provides him the opportunity for his home to remain his home as he, potentially, winds down his career wearing red.
In 2022, Mikolas made a career high 33 appearances and, for the third time as a Cardinal, made 32 starts. His 202 ⅓ innings pitched and 153 strikeouts were career highs.
This story was originally published March 24, 2023 at 11:34 AM.
