Jeremy Affeldt making steady recovery from sliced hand - MLB

Giants setup man Jeremy Affeldt was shut down in early September after slicing open his right (non-throwing) hand while trying to separate frozen hamburger patties in his home kitchen.

The cut was deep — coming within a millimeter of a major artery — so the left-hander has been treated with care over the last month-plus. And he’s now beginning to show signs of real progress.

According to the Associated Press, via FOX Sports, Affeldt is expected to have the protective brace removed from his right hand within the next couple of days, after an examination by a specialist in the Bay Area. He’s fully expected to be ready by the start of spring training next February.

Affeldt posted a 2.63 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 61 2/3 innings this season for the Giants, striking out 54 batters while issuing 24 walks. The 32-year-old southpaw carries a $5 million club option for 2012.

ST. LOUIS — Miles Mikolas is sticking with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The right-hander signed a three-year, $55.75 million contract on Friday that will carry through the 2025 season.

The new deal replaces a $68 million, four-year contract signed in February 2019 that covered the 2020-23 seasons and was set to pay $15.75 million this year.

Mikolas will receive a $5 million signing bonus payable July 1 and will make $18.75 million in 2023 and $16 million in each of the following two seasons. Mikolas can earn a $250,000 bonus for winning a Cy Young Award, $50,000 for All-Star election or selection or winning a Gold Glove, $100,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $150,000 for World Series MVP.

Mikolas is scheduled to make the second opening-day start of his big league career next Thursday when the Cardinals host Toronto. Mikolas went 12-13 with a 3.29 ERA last season while helping St. Louis to the NL Central title.

“Miles stands among the top pitchers in the game today, and has continued to provide a steady presence for us both in the rotation and inside the clubhouse,” St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement.

Mikolas is 45-40 with a 3.79 in 143 games with San Diego, Texas and St. Louis. He recently pitched six shutout innings in two appearances for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic.