Red Sox get their World Series rings in a special pregame ceremony

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The Red Sox’ home opener is today and before the game they were presented with their World Series rings. But it wasn’t just the ordinary presentation with the team owner giving them their jewelry. The rings were carried out on to the field by people associated with the Marathon bombing last year. Families of victims, firefighters and other first responders.

Say what you want about the Red Sox, but they do a fantastic job of connecting with their community in meaningful ways. There is just not a team that any closer of a relationship with its city than do the Red Sox. Just makes moments like this pretty perfect.

And, for the record, here are the rings:

Not exactly understated, but compared to the World Series banner they unveiled before the game it’s practically reserved:

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.