Cubs release Jose Veras - MLB

As expected, no other teams claimed Jose Veras and the remainder of his $4 million contract off waivers after the Cubs designated him for assignment last week and the 33-year-old reliever has been released.

Veras was signed as a free agent this offseason to take over as the Cubs’ closer, but instead he saved zero games with an 8.10 ERA in 13 innings before being dropped from the roster.

Veras was very effective for the Astros and Tigers last season, posting a 3.02 ERA and 60/22 K/BB ratio in 63 innings, and in general has been a setup-caliber reliever with a 3.55 ERA in 249 innings from 2010-2013. Now that he’s available for the minimum salary while the Cubs cover the rest of his contract quite a few teams figure to be interested in adding Veras as bullpen depth.

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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.