Veteran Mikolas excited to lead (and learn from) young Nats staff

Right-hander Miles Mikolas signs one-year deal with Washington Nationals, bringing veteran experience to young rotation

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Washington Nationals have signed veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas to a one-year contract, adding much-needed experience to their young starting rotation. Mikolas, a two-time All-Star, is looking forward to both mentoring the Nats' young pitchers and learning from them, as he enters his 11th MLB season.

Why it matters

The Nationals' rotation was in need of veteran leadership after several young arms emerged last season. Mikolas, who has over 1,250 innings of big league experience, can provide that veteran presence while also benefiting from the fresh perspectives of his younger teammates.

The details

Mikolas, 37, signed with the Nationals on Wednesday after spending the last seven seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is a two-time All-Star who has appeared in two postseasons over his 11-year MLB career. Last season, Mikolas went 8-11 with a 4.84 ERA in 31 starts for the Cardinals. The Nationals are hoping he can further tap into his strengths, such as his mentality of being aggressive and attacking hitters.

  • Mikolas signed a one-year contract with the Nationals on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • The following morning, Mikolas was already in Nationals gear, situated at his locker in the team's new clubhouse.

The players

Miles Mikolas

A 37-year-old right-handed pitcher who is entering his 11th MLB season. Mikolas is a two-time All-Star who has over 1,250 innings of big league experience.

Paul Toboni

The president of baseball operations for the Washington Nationals.

Blake Butera

The manager of the Washington Nationals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's been pretty slow for a lot of the free agent pitchers out there. [I was] kind of sitting around, waiting, letting my agent do his thing and find a good landing spot. This is one of the places I wanted to be. Everything worked out, and I'm here and I'm super happy.”

— Miles Mikolas (mlb.com)

“I think you want to have folks in the clubhouse that have been on teams that have been winners and gone deep, and Miles is one of those guys. He's played around a lot of really good players, been in the big leagues for a long period of time. So I think that experience can really benefit our younger guys.”

— Paul Toboni, President of Baseball Operations (mlb.com)

“I think somebody who has done what he's done can easily come in here and say he's going to be the one teaching everybody. But the fact that one of the first things he said was he's excited to learn from the younger group kind of shows the character and the person we're bringing into the clubhouse here.”

— Blake Butera, Manager (mlb.com)

What’s next

Mikolas is expected to be a key part of the Nationals' starting rotation this season as they look to build around their young pitching talent.

The takeaway

The Nationals' signing of veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas demonstrates their commitment to blending experienced leadership with youthful potential as they aim to return to contention in the National League.