The Washington Nationals have made a significant decision involving veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas, designating the former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher for assignment ahead of Wednesday night’s matchup with the Chicago Cubs.
According to The Athletic’s Spencer Nusbaum, Washington made the move Wednesday as the organization continues evaluating its pitching staff and looking toward the future. Mikolas joined the Nationals during the 2026 offseason on a one-year, $2.5 million contract, hoping to provide experience and stability to a relatively young pitching staff. Instead, his tenure in Washington has turned into a major disappointment.
The 37-year-old struggled throughout his time with the Nationals, posting a 5.82 ERA across 116 innings in 25 appearances, including 11 starts. Those numbers ultimately left Washington with little reason to keep the veteran on its active roster as the club evaluates younger pitching options.
Mikolas’ decline continues after Cardinals departure
Mikolas entered Washington with an established reputation as a dependable major-league starter. He previously pitched for the San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals, and his best years came in St. Louis.
The right-hander earned two All-Star selections, including his most recent appearance in 2022 while representing the Cardinals. That season, Mikolas was one of the more reliable starters in the National League and appeared to be firmly established as a veteran rotation anchor.
His performance declined considerably after that All-Star campaign, however. Mikolas struggled during his final seasons with St. Louis from 2023 through 2025 before ultimately moving on to Washington.
The Nationals hoped a change of scenery could help him regain some of his previous form, but the results were not there.
Another opportunity may still be possible
Despite the disappointing numbers, Mikolas’ experience could attract interest from teams dealing with pitching injuries or searching for inexpensive rotation depth.
He has a lengthy major-league track record and has previously demonstrated an ability to handle a substantial workload. However, his recent performance raises legitimate concerns. Mikolas has not posted an ERA below 4.78 since 2022, making it difficult to view him as a dependable starting option at this stage of his career.
Still, a contender needing innings could potentially take a chance on him, particularly if Washington releases him or another organization acquires him after the DFA process.
Nationals turn toward younger pitching
The decision also fits Washington’s broader organizational direction.
The Nationals entered Wednesday at 59-62, sitting fourth in the National League East. Although their offense has shown encouraging signs, their pitching remains an area that needs considerable attention.
Removing Mikolas from the roster could give Washington an opportunity to evaluate younger arms at the major-league level. Developing those pitchers could be more valuable to the organization than continuing to rely on a veteran whose production has steadily declined.
For Washington, the move is therefore about more than Mikolas’ disappointing numbers. It represents another step toward determining which players can become part of the team’s next competitive core.
Mikolas’ DFA marks a disappointing chapter for a pitcher who was once a two-time All-Star, but it could also provide him with one final opportunity to revive his career elsewhere while giving the Nationals a chance to accelerate the development of their younger pitchers.
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