White Sox slugger Jose Abreu to be activated Monday - MLB

The White Sox fell back under the .500 mark with Saturday’s loss to the Padres, but they’re still in second place in the American League Central standings and will get a big boost this week.

MLB.com’s Scott Merkin reports that first baseman Jose Abreu will be activated from the disabled list before Monday night’s series-opener against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The rookie slugger wound up missing a little over two weeks with what was called “posterior tibia tendinitis” in his left ankle.

Abreu will return to a fantastic .908 OPS, 15 home runs, and 42 RBI. He is part of a high-profile race for 2014 American League Rookie of the Year honors with Masahiro Tanaka of the Yankees and George Springer of the Astros. Tanaka would have to be considered the favorite here on June 1.

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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.