Former St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas is now a free agent after the Washington Nationals officially released him. The move comes just days after Washington designated the veteran pitcher for assignment, ending his short-lived tenure with the club.
The Nationals signed Mikolas to a one-year Major League contract in February 2026, hoping the experienced starter could provide stability to a young pitching staff. He entered the season with more than a decade of MLB experience and had previously been one of the Cardinals’ most dependable starters.
However, Mikolas struggled considerably in Washington. He finished his Nationals stint with a 3-9 record and a 5.82 ERA over 25 appearances, according to Reuters. He was used in multiple roles, moving between the starting rotation and bullpen and at times working behind an opener.
Despite those struggles, Mikolas did have stretches where he demonstrated that he could still provide valuable innings. In June, for example, he followed an opener against the Seattle Mariners and delivered seven scoreless innings in a 10-1 Nationals victory.
What happened to his roster spot?
Washington designated Mikolas for assignment on August 12 while promoting left-hander Jackson Kent, one of the organization’s highly regarded pitching prospects. Kent, a 2024 fourth-round selection, had gone 9-4 with a 3.72 ERA across 20 minor-league starts in 2026 before receiving his first MLB opportunity.
The Nationals subsequently requested unconditional release waivers on Mikolas. Once he clears those waivers, he becomes a free agent and can sign with another club.
His Cardinals legacy
Mikolas spent seven seasons with St. Louis, establishing himself as a durable member of the Cardinals’ rotation and earning two All-Star selections, in 2018 and 2022.
His best Cardinals season came in 2018, when he went 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA across 32 starts, leading the National League in wins. Four years later, he again earned All-Star honors after posting a 3.29 ERA in 32 starts while surpassing 200 innings.
Across his Cardinals career, Mikolas made 203 starts and threw 1,161 innings, compiling a 4.16 ERA and 833 strikeouts. His value was often tied to his ability to take the ball regularly and work deep into games rather than overpower hitters with strikeouts.
What comes next?
At 37 years old, Mikolas now faces an uncertain next step. His 2026 numbers make him a less attractive option than he was earlier in his career, but his experience, durability and history of handling a starting workload could still make him an intriguing depth option for a club dealing with pitching injuries.
He also recently reached 10 years of MLB service, an important career milestone. Heavy noted that Mikolas could potentially decide to retire after a career spanning the Padres, Rangers, Cardinals and Nationals, along with a successful three-year stint in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants. (HEAVY)
Overall, the release marks a disappointing end to Mikolas’ 2026 comeback attempt, but it does not erase a career in which he became a two-time All-Star, a 30-start workhorse and one of the more reliable starters in St. Louis during his seven-year Cardinals run.
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