Padres call up Kyle Blanks from Triple-A - MLB

Looking for a jolt for their non-existent offense, the Padres have called up first baseman/outfielder Kyle Blanks from Triple-A El Paso.

Blanks was off to a hot start in the minors this season, batting .265/.364/.651 with nine home runs and five doubles over 27 games. The 27-year-old made the start at first base tonight over Yonder Alonso, who is slashing a miserable .163/.193/.221 through 31 games this season. His .404 OPS is the lowest among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances.

Blanks hit .243 with a .684 OPS last season and owns a .712 OPS in the majors, so he’s far from a sure thing to be an upgrade, but the Padres are looking for a spark right now. They entered play tonight ranked last in the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and runs scored. Yikes.

Follow @djshort

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.