J.J. Hardy will no longer talk about his contract negotiations with the Orioles

8 Comments

Last week J.J. Hardy told reporters that the lack of progress in contract negotiations with the Orioles “just makes me curious” and now the impending free agent shortstop has decided to stop talking about the situation publicly.

Hardy informed reporters that he will no longer discuss his contract negotiations, which is a big change because Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com describes him as having “respectfully fielded questions from reporters since spring training.”

According to Hardy he wants to keep from being a distraction and avoid a potential misunderstanding, which suggests the Orioles probably weren’t thrilled with last week’s comments. And the lack of progress on a long-term extension also suggests the Orioles are probably hesitant to lock Hardy up into his mid-30s. He’s in the final season of a three-year, $22.25 million deal at age 31.

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

cardinals mikolas
Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports
0 Comments

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.