Chad Billingsley will start rehab assignment on Sunday - MLB

MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick reports that Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday. The right-hander is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent on April 25 last year.

The Dodgers have had tremendous production out of all five slots in the starting rotation, so it’s hard to imagine Billingsley pushing anyone out when he’s ready. As a result, the Dodgers could use Billingsley out of the bullpen.

Billingsley, 29, hasn’t pitched since April 15 against the Padres last season. The right-hander is earning $12 million this season and the Dodgers have a $14 million option on him with a $3 million buy out for the 2015 season.

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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.