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I’ve never heard of this guy before, but I love the mustache, the nickname and he’s been kicking ass in Japan too, so I’m all in on the Miles Mikolas hype train.
There haven’t been any reports of the Chicago Cubs going after him yet, but the name has been linked to the North Side twice by NBC Sports Chicago’s Patrick Mooney and ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers, as a possible option for the fifth starter in the rotation.
Mooney:
If the Cubs go for a higher-end pitcher like Cobb, look for them to pick up more of a buy-low starter and create an opportunity at the back of their rotation. Think of an under-the-radar name like Miles Mikolas, who pitched parts of three seasons for the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers before moving to Japan and going 31-13 with a 2.18 ERA across the last three years with the Yomiuri Giants.
Rogers:
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If they sign a pitcher such as Cobb, they can fill out the last rotation spot with anyone from a reclamation project such as former Red Sox hurler Clay Buchholz to a returning pitcher from Japan such as Miles Mikolas to perhaps Lackey if he indeed is not retiring. As stated previously, there’s a wide net.
As Mooney stated, Mikolas pitched for the San Diego Padres and he went through their minor league system when current Cubs personnel Jed Hoyer, Jason McLeod, and Jaron Madison were in charge in San Diego. So, you can imagine that they have a pretty good idea of Mikolas’ potential.
The 29-year-old pitcher began his professional career as a reliever and it wasn’t until 2014, when he began to start games for the Texas Rangers. Mikolas didn’t have much success with the Rangers and signed with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan in 2015. Since then, the man nicknamed the “Lizard King” has dominated the NPB.
In three years pitching in Japan, Mikolas had a 2.18 ERA in 424.2 innings, making 62 total starts. This past year, the right-hander had a 2.55 ERA in 188 innings, striking out 187 batters and walking only 23.
This potential signing makes even more sense because the investment isn’t projected to be a lot. In a recent article breaking down the possible contracts for free agents, MLB insider Jon Heyman estimated Mikolas deal at about two years for $8 million.
Give me that any day over John Lackey coming back, which the Cubs are apparently talking about.
