Mikolas signs extension with Cards: 'No team I'd rather play for'

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JUPITER, Fla. (KMOX) updated at 4:30 p.m.- The St. Louis Cardinals and Miles Mikolas have argeed on an extension, which was officially announced during a 4:30 p.m. press conference, Tuesday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. 

Mikolas was named the 2019 Opening Day starter by manager Mike Shildt over the weekend and he was joined by his wife and kids for the press conference. 

“When I went to japan I said I was going to be the best baseball player that I could be. And if you focus on those short term goals, the long term goals will take care of themselves," Mikolas says. "Going forward in my baseball career, there’s no team I could see as a better fit, and no team I would rather play for than the St. Louis Cardinals."

A source has confirmed an extension for Miles Mikolas has been reached... @dgoold was first. No word from the @Cardinals yet. Press conference scheduled for 4:30 CT. #stlcards

— Tom Ackerman (@Ackerman1120) February 26, 2019

.@Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt announces a 4-year extension for Miles Mikolas #STLCards @KMOXSports pic.twitter.com/cfBnsmhm9v

— Chris Hrabe (@chrabe) February 26, 2019

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports the deal is for 4-years and $68, but could reach as high as $70 million. St. Louis confirmed it was a four-year deal (2020-23), but financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. 

He went 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA. He struck out 146 batters and walked just 29 in 200.2 innings. His perfect 10-0 mark in road games matched the best in Major League history for a pitcher with 10 or more road wins, joining Hall of Famer Greg Maddux (1995) and Jimmy Key (1994).

After spending the 2015-17 seasons pitching for Yomiuri in the Japanese Central League, Mikolas signed a free-agent contract with the Cardinals in December of 2017, returning to the majors for the first time since 2014 when he made 10 starts for Texas.  Mikolas was a combined 31-13 in Japan with a 2.25 ERA in 62 starts for the Yomiuri Giants.

In addition to his top N.L. marks in wins and winning pct. in 2018,  Mikolas was also ranked among the Senior Circuit’s top performers in ERA (2.83-4th), innings pitched (200.2-6th) and starts (32-9th), and he paced the league in fewest walks/9 IP ratio (1.30), issuing just 29 free passes.

Mikolas was voted by his teammates as the recipient of the 2018 Darryl Kile Award, presented annually by the St. Louis Chapter of the BBWAA to the Cardinals player who best demonstrates the qualities of the late Darryl Kile by being a good teammate, a great friend, a fine father and a humble man.