Alex Cobb cleared to begin rehab assignment - MLB

Rays right-hander Alex Cobb got through a simulated game today well enough that the Rays have cleared to him to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday.

Josh Vitale of the Charlotte Sun reports that Cobb will make a rehab start at either high Single-A or Triple-A. In today’s simulated game Cobb tossed four shutout innings, striking out eight, and Vitale says he was clocked at 90-91 miles per hour with his fastball.

Cobb has been on the disabled list since April 13 with a strained oblique muscle. He was off to a great start before the injury, posting a 1.89 ERA and 14/5 K/BB ratio in 19 innings to build on his breakout 2013 campaign that saw his thrive late in the season after returning from a line drive to the head.

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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.