The Washington Nationals have added a veteran pitcher to its 2026 rotation after signing an available name on Wednesday
After hinting that more moves could be on the way after dealing MacKenzie Gore last month, the Washington Nationals have reportedly signed veteran Miles Mikolas to the rotation.
The news comes after Mikolas ends a rocky eight year stint with the St. Louis Cardinals, but gives the Nationals a much-needed experienced arm in the 2026 rotation.
Mikolas is coming off a 2025 season where he finished 8-11 with a 4.84 ERA, tossing 100 strikeouts to 37 walks across over 156 innings pitched and 31 starts while he did not miss a start despite an inconsistent season.
He began his career with the San Diego Padres after becoming a seventh round pick in the 2009 MLB Draft where he spent his first few seasons in the minor league before drawing a non-roster invitation to spring training in 2012 months before he was called up to the majors directly from Double-A. Giancarlo Stanton took him yard in his first at-bat while he went on to allow five runs across 13 2/3 innings and 13 appearances.
After going 4-2 in 2013, Mikolas was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates following the season where he was then traded to the Texas Rangers, once again opening the season in the minor leagues. He suited up for the Yomiuri Giants in the Nippon Professional League in 2014 before returning stateside to sign a two-year, $15.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals where he's remained ever since.
Mikolas missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing surgery to repair a flexor tendon in his right arm, but was activated in August 2021 off the 60-day injured list. The follow year, Mikolas nearly tossed a no-hitter until Cal Mitchell recorded the first hit on a ground rule double. Mikolas was also named to the 2022 MLB All Star game with Corbin Burnes sidelined at the time.
Mikolas then inked a two year, $40 million contract extension in March 2023 before becoming the first pitcher to start 35 games in a season since Jhoulys Chacin in 2018. He struggled over his last two seasons with the club, though now gives the Nationals an experienced arm in the rotation.
He now joins Cade Cavalli, Jake Irvin, Josiah Gray, Foster Griffin and Brad Lord in the rotation though how Gray returns after missing the 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery is worth watching through spring training. But with questions about the Nationals' Opening Day starter and quality of the rotation, Mikolas now adds another piece to the puzzle with president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and the front office looking to upgrade its pitching staff ahead of the 2026 season.