Cardinals fans raging over $40 million Miles Mikolas extension: "Could've used that on a capable starter"

When Miles Mikolas joined the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018, he brought his game to a new level. After posting a league-best 18 wins alongside 146 strikeouts and an ERA of just 2.83, Cards fans definitely wanted the 6-foot-4 right-hander to stick around.

After re-signing with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2020 for a four-year deal worth $82 million, Mikolas struggled to recapture his pitching dominance of 2018 and 2019.

After opting out of the 2020 season, Miles Mikolas' numbers began to gradually slip. He missed the majority of the 2021 season with a forearm strain and posted a career-worst ERA of 4.23 in nine starts that year.

Despite Mikolas evidently not being on a course to return to the days of 2018, the St. Louis Cardinals have signed the 34-year old to a 2-year extension worth $40 million, first reported by Derek Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Jesse Rogers

@JesseRogersESPN

The Cardinals have agreed to a 2-year, $40 million extension with starter Miles Mikolas, sources tell ESPN

@dgoold was first to report an agreement.

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The Cardinals have agreed to a 2-year, $40 million extension with starter Miles Mikolas, sources tell ESPN

@dgoold was first to report an agreement.

Despite the fact that Miles Mikolas was probably already slated to be the No. 1 starter for the Cards, fans are not thrilled about the extension. Some have even made reference to Mikolas' trademark mustache as the only reason the team wants to keep him around.

Michael

@Matthews1526

@JesseRogersESPN @JeffPassan @dgoold Paid for the mustache

@JesseRogersESPN @JeffPassan @dgoold Paid for the mustache

Mets Fan In Chief

@NYMetsChief

@JesseRogersESPN @JeffPassan @dgoold Worth it for the mustache alone #lgm

@JesseRogersESPN @JeffPassan @dgoold Worth it for the mustache alone #lgm

avi sauber

@SauberAvi

@JesseRogersESPN @dgoold He has a nice stache but that's it

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@JesseRogersESPN @dgoold He has a nice stache but that's it

Mikolas' age has been a concern, along with his recent injury record. Adam Wainwright, his 41-year old teammate, was injured at the recent World Baseball Classic and will miss the start of the season.

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Callouts

@CalloutsLFGM

@JesseRogersESPN @dgoold Could’ve used that on a capable starter

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@JesseRogersESPN @dgoold Could’ve used that on a capable starter

Jacob M Baldwin

@JacobMBaldwin1

@JesseRogersESPN @dgoold YOU GOT TO BE JOKING ME

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@JesseRogersESPN @dgoold YOU GOT TO BE JOKING ME

Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty are two Cardinals pitchers who have high expectations this season. With his hefty extension, Mikolas will also need to prove his worth.

anthxny.187

@anthxny_187

@JesseRogersESPN @JeffPassan @dgoold all this just to lose to the cubs 50 times a year

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@JesseRogersESPN @JeffPassan @dgoold all this just to lose to the cubs 50 times a year 💀

Fer

@fercasmar

@JesseRogersESPN @JeffPassan @dgoold Over paid

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@JesseRogersESPN @JeffPassan @dgoold Over paid

Mikolas, a Florida native, had a relatively obscure career between the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres before he emerged with the Cardinals.

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Cardinals fans should not be so hasty to dispel Miles Mikolas

Although the St. Louis Cardinals may not have been the National League's best pitching team last season, they were far from the worst. With the departure of Jose Quintana and Wainwright's injury, Mikolas will need to act as a foundation for the younger starters who may well take their place. Cardinals fans should consider Mikolas as a strength for their team ahead of a possibly challenging 2023 season.

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