Cardinals’ Miles Mikolas takes shot at rival team’s spending

Feb 25, 2021; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas (39) throws during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, USA; Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas appears intent on trying to spice things up ahead of the team’s Opening Day game.

Mikolas is already looking ahead to the team’s March 28 opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and is very eager to “stick it” to the big-spending NL favorite. Mikolas said the Dodgers play “checkbook baseball,” and that the Cardinals are aiming to counter that by being the “hardest working group of Midwestern farmers we can be.”

#STLCards RHP Miles Mikolas on opening vs. the #Dodgers : “We’re not exactly a low payroll team, but you got the Dodgers playing checkbook baseball. We’re going to be the hardest working group of Midwestern farmers we can be. … It would be great to stick it to the Dodgers.”

— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 16, 2024

“We’re not exactly a low payroll team, but you got the Dodgers playing checkbook baseball,” Mikolas said. “We’re going to be the hardest working group of Midwestern farmers we can be. … It would be great to stick it to the Dodgers.”

Plenty of people are probably in agreement with Mikolas on the topic of the Dodgers’ spending. The team spent over $1.2 billion in the offseason on the likes of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, though their projected payroll may not even wind up as the highest in the league.

The Dodgers certainly have some flaws and are making some risky moves ahead of the new season, even with the money spent. However, one has to wonder if the Cardinals are equipped to take advantage of any slip-ups. They finished 71-91 last season and spent the offseason making mostly modest additions to their pitching staff.

Mikolas will be a big part of any potential improvement. His 4.78 ERA last season was a big disappointment, particularly coming off an All-Star campaign in 2022.