Russell Martin challenges Martin Maldonado to a fight for charity - MLB

The Brewers and Pirates got involved in a nasty brawl yesterday afternoon in Pittsburgh after outfielder Carlos Gomez flipped his bat on a triple, which ticked off starter Gerrit Cole. Martin Maldonado was right in the middle of the skirmish and landed a punch on Travis Snider, who showed up to the ballpark today with a shiner and a cut under his left eye. MLB will issue punishments in the coming days, but Snider’s teammate, Russell Martin, still wants Maldonado to see his comeuppance.

Russell Martin: "Maybe (in) offseason we can raise some money for charity and battle it out. Me and (Maldonado). I’m throwing it out there."

— Travis Sawchik (@Sawchik_Trib) April 21, 2014

Martin: "If (Maldonado) wants to have a fight for charity in the offseason. My contract comes up. … I’d be completely willing to do that."

— Travis Sawchik (@Sawchik_Trib) April 21, 2014

This, of course, will never happen, but it’s clear that emotions are still running high here. Anyway, here’s what Maldonado had to say about Martin’s challenge:

Martin Maldonado declined to respond to Russell Martin's charity fight challenge. "I don't know what to say about it."

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) April 21, 2014

The Pirates will play the Brewers in Milwaukee for a three-game series beginning on May 13. This likely isn’t the last we have heard of this situation.

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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.