Aroldis Chapman throws live batting practice, wants one more session before heading out on rehab assignment - MLB

Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman threw live batting practice on Saturday afternoon at Turner Field, hours before his team took on the Braves. He did so without a protective screen, a great sign. But the lefty wants to throw one more batting practice session before heading out on a rehab assignment, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon writes.

“I would be able to go to the Minor Leagues right now, but to be honest, I need at least one more simulated game,” Chapman said via translator Tomas Vera. “I think that’s what we’re going to do — throw another simulated game before I decide to go somewhere else.”

Chapman is tentatively scheduled for another live BP on Tuesday at Great American Ball Park.

Chapman is recovering from facial fractures after he was hit in the face with a line drive off of the bat of Salvador Perez in a spring training game. If he suffers no setbacks, he could rejoin the Reds some time in the middle of May.

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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.