Report: Marlins close to signing Miguel Tejada - MLB

Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports that the Marlins are close to signing Miguel Tejada to a minor-league contract.

Tejada spent last season in a part-time role with the Royals, hitting .288 with three homers and a .695 OPS in 167 plate appearances spread over 53 games. He was placed on the disabled list in August with a calf injury and then shortly after that received a 105-game suspension for repeated amphetamine usage. Another positive test would lead to a lifetime ban.

All of which makes the Marlins signing him an odd move. Tejada is 40 years old, hasn’t posted an OPS above .700 since 2009, and can no longer handle shortstop defensively. They must really want the former MVP around in a possible utility role.

Follow @AaronGleeman

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.