Phillies sign Jason Marquis

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Veteran right-hander Jason Marquis has signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies as he comes back from Tommy John elbow surgery last July.

Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports that Marquis will head to extended spring training for now, but he could be an option for the Phillies’ rotation in the second half if his recovery continues to go smoothly.

Marquis has generally been a decent back-of-the-rotation starter except for a disastrous stint with the Twins two years ago and had thrown 211 innings with a 4.05 ERA in a season-and-a-half with the Padres at the time of the injury.

It’s a no-risk move for Philadelphia to add the 35-year-old Marquis for organizational depth amid concerns that Cliff Lee’s elbow injury could be more serious than initially believed.

Cardinals sign pitcher Miles Mikolas to 3-year, $55.75M deal

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Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports
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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.