St. Louis Cardinals interested in extension with Miles Mikolas

The St. Louis Cardinals had one of the biggest surprises in the game in 2018 with Miles Mikolas. Understandably, they are looking to keep him around.

When the St. Louis Cardinals signed Miles Mikolas to a two year deal worth $15.5 million last offseason, it was a contract with some degree of risk. Mikolas had not established himself as a major league pitcher prior to that point, with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.423 WHiP, striking out 62 batters in his 91.1 innings. With his career seemingly in limbo, Mikolas headed to Japan, hoping that his time overseas would jumpstart his career.

Those three seasons in Japan made a tremendous difference. Mikolas became an ace for the Yomiuri Giants, posting a 31-13 record with a 2.18 ERA and a 0.994 WHiP, striking out 378 batters against just 69 walks over his 424 innings. With a set role as a starter, he had become one of the more intriguing free agents when the Cardinals inked him to that two year contract.

The hope was that Mikolas would be able to bring that success to the majors. He did exactly that in his first season in St. Louis, leading the National League with 18 wins and an .818 winning percentage. He made the All Star Game, posting a 2.83 ERA and a 1.071 WHiP. While he still did not strike out many batters, with only 146 strikeouts in 202.1 innings, Mikolas showed impeccable control, issuing only 29 walks to lead the league with a 1.3 BB/9 rate.

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Signed to a bargain $8 million for the upcoming season, it is understandable that the Cardinals would want to keep Mikolas around beyond 2019. There is interest in his side as well, as the Cardinals front office and Mikolas’ representatives have begun discussing the framework for an extension. Although it is unlikely that anything concrete happens until sometime in Spring Training, the mutual interest in apparent.

And yet, this would not be an extension without risk. Mikolas was one of the great surprises last year, but can he replicate that success in 2019? The Cardinals certainly hope so, and may be placing a significant financial gamble on those results.

Yet, such a move could still turn out to be a bargain. As he does not have that track record of success, the Cardinals may still be able to ink Mikolas for what would be an under market contract if he had reaches free agency. A second strong year would place him firmly in that second tier of starting pitchers on the market, valued options that could be looked upon as the missing piece for a contending club.

Miles Mikolas appears set to have a hefty payday in the near future. The St. Louis Cardinals might make sure that he does not need to leave to get that payout.