Carlos Zambrano serves up homer to Cubs teammate in first Venezuelan start - MLB

Carlos Zambrano made his first Venezuelan winter league start yesterday and his Cubs teammate Bryan LaHair took him deep as part of 2.2 innings of two-run ball.

Zambrano last started for the Cubs three months ago, so Los Caribes de Anzoátegui is limiting his workload for now. He needed 60 pitches to record eight outs and issued two walks, hit one batter, and committed a throwing error.

And according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune the crowd gave Zambrano a standing ovation as he exited the game in the middle of the third inning.

Theo Epstein has said the Cubs are in favor of Zambrano pitching in Venezuela and plan to have someone on hand to watch his starts, so his performance may determine whether they eat a big portion of his $18 million salary to make a trade or decide to simply hang onto Zambrano for the final year of his $91.5 million contract.

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.