Miles Mikolas’ Time with St. Louis Cardinals is Coming to a Close
After three successful seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, it seems that Miles Mikolas’ time with the team is coming to an end. The right-handed pitcher, who has been a key player for the Cardinals since 2018, is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2021 season.
Mikolas, who signed a two-year, $15.5 million contract with the Cardinals in 2017, has been a reliable and consistent presence on the team’s pitching rotation. In his first season with the Cardinals, he posted a 2.83 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP, earning him a spot on the National League All-Star team.
However, Mikolas’ time with the Cardinals has been plagued by injuries. In 2019, he missed the first two months of the season due to a flexor tendon strain in his right arm. And in 2020, he underwent surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon, causing him to miss the entire season.
Despite these setbacks, Mikolas has remained a valuable asset to the Cardinals when healthy. In 202
Veteran Pitcher Miles Mikolas’ Time in Cardinals’ Rotation Could Be Coming to an End
The St. Louis Cardinals may soon be looking for a replacement in their starting rotation as veteran pitcher Miles Mikolas struggles to find his footing.
With a record of 58-58, the Cardinals are currently sitting in fourth place in the NL Central. In an effort to build for the future, the team traded away their top bullpen players at the deadline and acquired six promising prospects. This move suggests that the 36-year-old Mikolas’ performance this season may not be meeting the team’s expectations.
Through 22 starts, Mikolas has a 5.11 ERA (63 ER in 111.0 IP) and is on an expiring contract. This, coupled with the team’s focus on developing young talent, could mean that Mikolas’ time in the rotation is coming to an end.
According to Thomas Gauvain of Redbird Rants, Kyle Leahy, who made his MLB debut in 2023, is the top contender for Mikolas’ spot in the rotation. Gauvain believes that Leahy, although not currently stretched out enough to pitch five or six innings, could still make a valuable contribution to the team by throwing 60 pitches in an outing with sufficient rest.
Leahy, a 17th-round pick in the 2018 draft, was not initially considered a top prospect after recording a 5.68 ERA in his first year of Rookie Ball. However, he has shown significant improvement since then, making three appearances for the Cardinals in 2023 and boasting a 4.07 ERA last season. This year, he has an impressive 2.59 ERA in 45 relief outings.
Mikolas has had a successful career in St. Louis, earning All-Star honors in 2018 and 2022, and leading the NL in wins in 2018 with 18. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2009 and played overseas for the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball League from 2015-2017 before joining the Cardinals.
Overall, Mikolas holds a 4.24 career ERA with a 70-73 record in MLB. However, with the team’s focus on developing young talent and Mikolas’ current struggles, it seems that his time in the Cardinals’ rotation may be coming to an end.
