Former Yomiuri Giants fan-favorite Miles Mikolas (nickname: “Maikoba”) is officially a free agent this offseason after his contract with the St. Louis Cardinals fully ended following the 2025 season. Recent coverage in both U.S. and Japanese media has clearly labeled him as a Cardinals FA, and no new deal has been reported yet.

Mikolas is now 37—so the big question is obvious: stay in MLB, or make a surprise return to Japan… and to the Giants?

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Why the “Giants reunion” rumor is suddenly back

Around November, Mikolas’ agent reportedly suggested that a return to Japan is a realistic option—and that this offseason could be the right window. That one comment was enough to reignite Giants reunion talk instantly.

And honestly… if Mikolas comes back to Japan, it’s easy to see why fans believe it would be Tokyo or nothing:

• He already proved he can thrive in NPB
• Giants fans still adore him (the love is different)
• He and his family have real-life Japan experience, not just “a baseball stint”

That said, as of December 16, there have been no official reports of negotiations or an agreement. It’s still early in the offseason, so this remains a watch-and-wait situation.

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Even after Whitley, the “We still want Mikolas” crowd isn’t going away

The Giants have already announced the signing of pitcher Whitley—but that hasn’t stopped the fanbase from dreaming bigger:

• “Whitley is great… but if we also got Mikolas, that’s the perfect offseason.”
• “Give us the greedy combo set: Whitley + Maikoba.”
• “Is the Mikolas line dead now, or…?”

You can feel the shift: some fans are moving from “Bring Mikolas back!” to “Let Whitley be Mikolas-level good!”—but the Maikoba reunion hype is still alive.

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What Giants fans are saying on X (formerly Twitter)

Here are the kinds of posts you’ve been seeing lately (translated and paraphrased):

• “Mikolas comeback… please. #39 is open.”
• “We signed Whitley, but I still want Maikoba too—greedy set, please.”
• “Has the Mikolas comeback path disappeared?”
• “I don’t even care about the numbers. I just want to see him in a Giants uniform again.”
• “Mikolas, forget the money—retire as a Giant.”
• “Welcome home, Mikolas ⚾”
• “Maikoba reunion—can it happen?”
• “Even 1–2 years is fine. Just one more time.”

It’s a mix of hope and half-resigned acceptance—but the point is clear: Mikolas is still massively loved.

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Summary: Nothing is decided… and that’s exactly why it’s exciting

• Mikolas became a free agent after the 2025 season
• His agent has hinted that Japan (and possibly the Giants) is on the table
• As of Dec 16, there are no confirmed talks or deal reports
• Giants fans still have a strong “please come back” movement

It’s still just rumors. But because it’s not decided yet, it’s impossible not to get excited. If there’s any real movement, this story will explode fast—so for now, let’s enjoy the offseason suspense.

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Should the Giants Sign Mikolas? Real Pros and Cons of a “Maikoba” Return

The Mikolas question always turns emotional, fast. So let’s balance the fan feelings with reality: roster construction, performance risk, and fit.

The upside: why Mikolas makes sense

1) He’s a true “plug-and-play” NPB arm

This is the biggest advantage.

• He’s already played for the Giants
• He understands Japanese hitters, ballparks, and weekly rotation rhythm
• He won’t need the “arrive → adjust → struggle → finally click by summer” timeline

If you want a foreign pitcher you can actually trust early in the season, this matters a lot.

2) He stabilizes the rotation as an inning-eater

Even if he’s not peak Mikolas anymore, his profile still screams:

• limit walks
• avoid pointless blow-ups
• give you a real chance to win most starts

For a rotation with younger arms, a guy who can reliably give you something like 6 innings / 2 runs on a weekly basis is more valuable than it sounds.

3) Veteran presence: leadership you can feel

Mikolas has always played with edge:

• competitive
• responsible
• the type who pulls the team forward

For young pitchers, the biggest lesson isn’t mechanics—it’s how you prepare, how you survive bad days, how you carry yourself like a pro.

4) Fan impact and storyline value are real

Let’s not pretend this doesn’t matter:

• “Welcome back, Mikolas”
• “Retire as a Giant”
• “I just want to see him in orange again”

The emotional pull is enormous, and the marketing/storyline side would be a guaranteed win.

The downside: the risks are obvious too

1) He’s 37 — decline risk is unavoidable

This is the #1 concern:

• velocity isn’t what it used to be
• recent MLB stretches have been less steady
• injury risk rises with age

If fans expect “prime Mikolas,” disappointment is possible.

2) A rotation spot becomes locked

Signing Mikolas could mean:

• fewer chances for young starters
• foreign-player roster planning gets tighter

The Giants are always juggling win-now vs development. This signing forces choices.

3) Cost and contract length could flip the value

If he demands:

• MLB-level money
• a multi-year deal

…the risk skyrockets. Fans may say “cheap deal please,” but the real evaluation changes completely depending on terms.

Verdict: it’s absolutely “worth it”… if the conditions are right

Green-light scenario

• 1-year deal (or 1 + team option)
• reasonable salary
• expected role: #4–#5 starter
• development plan stays intact

Danger scenario

• expensive multi-year deal
• treated like the ace
• expectations get unrealistic

Still… the fact we’re even talking like this proves something:
Mikolas is special to Giants fans.

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What Salary Would Be Realistic for Mikolas in NPB?

The question everyone asks next: “Okay, but how much would he cost?”

Why it probably won’t be a huge contract

• He’s 37 (clearly veteran territory)
• He’s past peak MLB value (no mega “ace” deal)
• A Japan return would likely involve emotion + opportunity, not just money

The three realistic salary tiers

Tier 1 (most realistic): ¥200–¥300 million + incentives

This is the sweet spot where the team and fans can both say “Yeah, that makes sense.”

• Contract: 1 year (plus team option)
• Role: #4–#5 starter
• Incentives tied to starts/innings

Tier 2 (a bit high): ¥300–¥400 million

This happens if:

• there’s MLB competition
• he wants a guaranteed rotation role

At this price, expectations jump—and criticism gets louder if performance dips.

Tier 3 (unlikely): ¥400 million+

At 37, with roster realities and recent form, this feels hard to justify.

Contract length: one year is the key

More important than the salary is the structure:

• 1 year, or
• 1 year + team option

Multi-year deals carry too much risk: injury, rapid decline, and rotation rigidity.

Best-case “Giants line”

¥200–¥300 million, 1 year (+ option), incentives included.
That’s the cleanest way to make the story happen without breaking the roster plan.

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Would Mikolas Help Giants Young Pitchers — or Block Them?

This is the debate that never dies: “Does he steal innings from the kids?”

The real answer: He can be the best teacher on the roster—or a development brake. It depends entirely on how he’s used.

Positive impact: he teaches “how to win,” not just how to throw

• How to survive when you don’t have your best stuff
• How to manage tempo and pitch-calling
• How to be steady across a full season

That “starter craft” is exactly what young arms struggle to learn.

Negative impact: the danger is making him untouchable

If the Giants treat him like a protected veteran:

• young starters lose real chances
• meritocracy gets blurry
• development slows

Ideal relationship: he’s a competitor, not a sacred mentor

Best setup:

• Mikolas is #4–#5
• young arms can replace him if they earn it
• if he struggles, he adjusts—no exceptions

That creates pressure, growth, and a stronger team culture.

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Rotation Simulation: What the Giants Look Like If Mikolas Joins (2025 Version)

Realistic assumptions

• Mikolas is 37
• Contract: 1 year, ¥200–¥300M
• Role: #4–#5 starter
• no aggressive short-rest usage

Current rotation picture (example framework)

Locks / near-locks

• Shosei Togo
• Griffin
• Iori Yamasaki

Competition group

• Yushi Akahoshi
• Kai Yokokawa
• Kenshin Hotta
• Hiroki Kikuchi
• Masahiro Tanaka (depending on form/role)

Pattern A: most realistic (stability + development balance)

1. Togo
2. Griffin
3. Yamasaki
4. Mikolas
5. Akahoshi
6. Yokokawa

Pattern B: competition-first (no guaranteed safety)

• Togo / Griffin / Yamasaki
• Akahoshi / Yokokawa
• Mikolas rotating #5–#6 based on results

Pattern C: veteran protection (long-rest focus)

• Mikolas fixed at 6–7 days rest
• young pitchers fill “gap starts” and move up/down

Who loses out?

Most likely the fringe starters (like Hotta or Kikuchi) see their path get harder—unless they force the issue with results.

Final takeaway: Mikolas should be an “anchor,” not “the ace”

• Togo remains the core
• the middle supports
• Mikolas provides stability
• young arms push upward

If the Giants keep that balance, a Mikolas return can be a win for both 2026 results and future development.