Scott Boras hints Bryce Harper won’t sign Mike Trout-type deal, uses tea metaphor

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On the heels of Mike Trout signing a six-year, $144.5 million extension with the Angels, you can’t blame Nationals fans for hoping that perhaps Bryce Harper would consider a similar deal. However, Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, hinted to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post today that the Trout contract will have no impact on their plans. Just try to read through the creative tea metaphor:

“I have the pleasure and privilege of watching Mike Trout play every night,” Boras said. “I think he’s a very special cup of tea, for which he is deserving of a completely different brew. While few, I definitely consider Bryce Harper as part of the next generation of elite brand of teas. Certainly as a studied connoisseur, I may hold a differing opinion as to the availability, demand and value of tea futures.”

In his extension, Trout gave up three free agent years in exchange for some (significant) cost certainty and security. This is contrary to how Boras usually operates with his clients, so we shouldn’t expect anything different in this case unless Harper feels strongly about sticking around. Besides, while the 21-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance so far, we likely haven’t seen the best of him yet. Why think about an extension right now?

Harper is under team control through 2018 and his age-28 season. If he can stay healthy and find that next level as many believe that he can, it’s not hard to imagine him landing the richest contract in baseball history. Chances are Boras and Harper won’t give up that opportunity for all the tea in China.

Cardinals sign pitcher Miles Mikolas to 3-year, $55.75M deal

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Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports
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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.