While the St. Louis Cardinals are in the middle of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs this week, news emerged involving former Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas.
The Washington Nationals recently parted ways with the veteran right-hander shortly after he reached 10 years of Major League service. On Friday, reports confirmed that Mikolas had officially been released by Washington, making the former two-time All-Star a free agent.
MLBTR.com’s Anthony Franco wrote: “The Nationals have requested unconditional release waivers on Mikolas, per a club announcement. He’ll be a free agent once he clears.”
Miles Mikolas’s Tenure with the Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals fans are certainly familiar with Miles Mikolas, who spent parts of seven seasons with the organization and earned two MLB All-Star selections during his career.
Mikolas made 203 starts for the Cardinals, covering 1,161 innings, and posted a 4.16 ERA with 833 strikeouts and a 98 ERA+. Although he was never known as a dominant strikeout pitcher, Mikolas excelled at limiting hard contact during the prime years of his career. However, as he entered the later stages of his career, he became more prone to leaving pitches over the middle of the plate.
The right-hander was selected to the All-Star team in both 2018 and 2022. His 2018 campaign was particularly impressive, as he recorded a 2.83 ERA across 32 starts and led the National League with 18 wins.
Four years later, Mikolas enjoyed another strong season, posting a 3.29 ERA over 32 starts while surpassing the 200-inning mark.
Despite dealing with injuries at various points, Mikolas established himself as a reliable and durable starter, frequently making 30 or more starts in a season during his time with St. Louis.
Taking a Glance at Mikolas’s Full Career
Miles Mikolas spent a total of 11 seasons in Major League Baseball, with the majority of his career coming with the St. Louis Cardinals. Beyond St. Louis, he also played for the Washington Nationals in 2026, along with one season with the Texas Rangers and two seasons with the San Diego Padres.
During his time with Washington this season, Mikolas posted a 5.82 ERA over 116 innings. While his numbers were far from impressive, he still provided the Nationals with valuable innings throughout the season.
Across his entire MLB career, Mikolas made 224 starts and recorded a 4.37 ERA with 953 strikeouts. If the 37-year-old decides to retire after reaching the 10-year MLB service milestone and securing a lifetime pension, he can look back on a respectable and successful career.
