Blue Jays call up Liam Hendriks, designate Esmil Rogers for assignment - MLB

TheStar.com reports that the Blue Jays have designated reliever Esmil Rogers for assignment and have called up Liam Hendriks from Triple-A Buffalo to make his 2014 debut in Friday’s start against the Athletics.

Rogers, 24, struggled for the Jays out of the bullpen, posting a 6.97 ERA with five home runs allowed despite a 21/7 K/BB ratio in 20 2/3 innings. The defense-independent numbers speak to a pitcher who deserved better results than the performance merited, but he entered the season with a career 5.52 ERA.

Hendriks, 25, had been pitching well in the minors. In 48 2/3 innings over seven starts and two relief appearances, Hendriks posted a 1.48 ERA with a 36/3 K/BB ratio. The Australian had an interesting winter, as he was selected off of waivers from the Twins by the Cubs on December 13. Then he was selected off of waivers by the Orioles ten days later. On February 21, the Jays selected him off of waivers from the O’s.

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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.