Report: Mets, Giants interested in Yunel Escobar - MLB

The Mets and Giants have shown interest in Angels third baseman Yunel Escobar, per Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times. Escobar is likely to be a free agent after the season, which means it’s likely the last-place Angels will move him by the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline.

Escobar, however, suffered a knee injury on Thursday and hasn’t played since. An MRI showed a bone bruise, Moura notes. The Angels held him out of Sunday’s lineup but haven’t made a decision yet about potentially putting him on the disabled list.

Escobar, 33, is hitting a productive .310/.359/.409 with 18 doubles and 20 RBI in 301 plate appearances.

The Mets recently acquired Kelly Johnson and just signed Jose Reyes, but Escobar would be a better upgrade to replace the injured David Wright at third base. Similarly, Giants third baseman Matt Duffy is injured, though he is expected to return around mid-July.

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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.