Nationals sign pitcher Miles Mikolas to a $2.25 million, 1-year contract
[February 12, 2026]
WASHINGTON (AP) — Miles Mikolas and the Washington Nationals have agreed
to a $2.25 million, one-year contract, adding a durable veteran to the
mix as the young team sorts out its starting rotation in spring
training.
The club announced the move Wednesday. Mikolas can earn $750,000 in
performance bonuses: $100,000 each for 100 innings or 30 games pitched,
110 or 40 and 120 or 50, $200,000 for 130 or 60, and $250,000 for 140 or
70. |

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas throws during the
first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 26,
2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File) |
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The 37-year-old Mikolas, a two-time All-Star, spent his past
seven seasons with St. Louis. The right-hander went 8-11 with a
4.84 ERA for the Cardinals in 2025 and is one of four major
league pitchers to make at least 31 starts in each of the last
four seasons.
He has made 130 starts since 2022, tied for second-most in the
big leagues during that stretch.
The rebuilding Nationals traded All-Star starter MacKenzie Gore
to Texas last month for five minor league prosects. Jake Irvin,
Mitchell Parker, Cade Cavalli, Brad Lord and Foster Griffin are
among the pitchers looking to lock down rotation spots entering
camp. Josiah Gray, an All-Star in 2023, is coming back from
Tommy John surgery and hopes to be ready for the start of the
season.
Mikolas is 72-75 with a 4.24 ERA in 241 games, including 213
starts, over 10 major league seasons with San Diego (2012-13),
Texas (2014) and St. Louis (2018-25). He pitched in Japan from
2015-17 and sat out the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with an
injury.
Mikolas went 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 2018, leading the National
League in wins. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2009
amateur draft by the Padres and pitched six effective innings
for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
In another roster move, the Nationals placed left-hander DJ Herz
on the 60-day injured list.
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