Two-way star Ohtani chosen as Angels’ Opening Day pitcher

Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
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PHOENIX – The full Shohei Ohtani experience will be on display when the Los Angeles Angels take the field on Opening Day.

The two-way star was picked to be the team’s starting pitcher for the April 7 opener at Angel Stadium against the Houston Astros. He’s also expected to be in the lineup as the designated hitter.

The reigning AL Most Valuable Player is coming off one of the most unique and productive seasons in the sport’s history.

“I spoke to him, and he’s very excited about it,” Angels manager Joe Maddon told reporters on Friday. “Typically, he handles things with very limited emotion. Of course, he’s happy about it. He’s earned the right to do that. We’re ready to rock and roll. It’s exciting for everybody. It’s the right thing to do, and I’m looking forward to a good result.”

Ohtani was 9-2 on the mound last season with a 3.18 ERA, striking out 156 batters over 130 1/3 innings. He also hit 46 homers, 26 doubles, an AL-best eight triples and stole 26 bases.

Ohtani is also expected to be the beneficiary of an MLB rule change. With the DH adopted in both leagues, pitchers who start games in the batting order can remain in the game as a DH after leaving the mound. A DH can also enter the game to pitch.

CONFORTO UNSIGNED

There aren’t many potentially high-impact players remaining in free agency. One expception is outfielder Michael Conforto.

The 2017 NL All-Star played seven seasons for the Mets before hitting the market this winter. The 29-year-old turned down New York’s one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer which means any team who signs him has to give up at least one draft pick.

That’s one big reason the market appears fairly cool for the outfielder, even though Opening Day is in less than two weeks. Another reason is Conforto struggled some last year, hitting just .232 with 14 homers.

Still, he walks a lot, is younger than 30 years old, has 132 career homers and helped lead the Mets to the 2015 World Series. Now that there’s a universal DH, his so-so defense is less of a concern for National League teams.

MOLINA BACK ON THE FIELD

St. Louis Cardinals veteran Yadier Molina threw out a would-be basestealer on Friday in a game against the team’s minor leaguers.

The nine-time Gold Glove catcher missed the first week of what will likely be his final spring training to deal with a personal matter.

“It’s always fun to hear that ball whiz by your head and then watch a guy get thrown out,” said Miles Mikolas, who was pitching at the time.

The 39-year-old Molina – a 10-time All-Star – went 0 for 4 in the game played on a back field, with two flyouts and two groundouts.

Molina is targeting Sunday’s game at the New York Mets for his Grapefruit League debut, manager Oliver Marmol said.

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.