MLB Rumors: Miles Mikolas, Cardinals Agree to 2-Year, $40M Contract Extension

Two-time All-Star Miles Mikolas has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract extension with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch first reported the two sides had an agreement. Jesse Rogers of ESPN added the deal will pay the right-hander $40 million.

Mikolas, who was set to become a free agent after the upcoming season, is now under contract with the Cardinals through 2025.

Mikolas had a long journey before finally establishing himself as a pitcher in the big leagues. He was a seventh-round draft pick by the San Diego Padres in 2009 and made his MLB debut with the club three years later.

The Padres traded Mikolas to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 2013 season. The Pirates sent him to the Texas Rangers later in the offseason. He struggled with a 6.44 ERA in 10 starts and was released by the Rangers following the 2014 campaign.

After playing with the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball for three seasons, Mikolas returned to the United States when he signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals in December 2017.

The 2018 season was an unexpected breakout for Mikolas. He was named to the National League All-Star team and finished sixth in Cy Young voting after going 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 200.2 innings.

St. Louis rewarded Mikolas' effort with a four-year, $68 million extension. He took a step back in 2019 with a 4.16 ERA and sat out the entire 2020 season after undergoing surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm.

Mikolas didn't fully return from the forearm troubles until late in the 2021 season. The right-hander turned in a strong performance in 2022 with a 3.29 ERA in 33 appearances (32 starts) to earn his second All-Star selection.

The Cardinals are going with Mikolas as their Opening Day starter this year with Adam Wainwright unavailable because of a groin injury. He previously started the first game of the season in 2019.