KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Outfielder Myles Straw and the Cleveland Guardians agreed Saturday to a $25 million, five-year contract, a deal with two option years that could be worth $39.5 million over seven seasons.
The agreement was the club's third long-term commitment this week.
Straw, acquired last July from the Houston Astros, has made a quick impact for Cleveland at the top of the order and in center field. His deal includes club options for 2027 and 2028.
The 27-year-old Straw batted .285 with two homers and 13 steals in his two-month stint with Cleveland last season. But he showed more than enough to make the club believe he's worthy of a long-term investment.
Straw's deal contains escalators that have the potential to make it worth $43.5 million over seven seasons. It replaces a one-year contract that called for a major league salary of $719,900,
Straw is another core piece for the Guardians, who agreed to a $124 million, five-year deal with All-Star third baseman José Ramírez on the eve of opening day and a $20 million, five-year contract with closer Emmanuel Clase.
Overall, Straw batted .271 with four homers, 86 runs and 30 stolen bases in 2021. He ranked among the AL's leaders in walks, hits, runs and doubles over the final two months.
He has also developed into one of the league's best defensive outfielders, finishing second last season in putouts and giving manager Terry Francona and the club's pitchers confidence when the ball is hit to center that Straw will catch it.
Straw was selected by Houston in the 2015 draft. In five seasons, he has a .266 batting average with 47 steals in 257 games.
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