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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

MLB, notes: Florida Marlins invest in talented outfield

Ap

The Florida Marlins made another long-term investment in their young, talented outfield.

Left fielder Christian Yelich agreed to a seven-year contract worth about $49.6 million, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday. The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it hadn’t been announced.

Yelich, 23, is part of an outfield Miami considers the best in the majors, with $325 million slugger Giancarlo Stanton in right field and Marcell Ozuna in center. Two-thirds of that outfield will be under contract through at least 2021, with the 25-year-old Stanton signing a 13-year agreement in November.

Miami has discussed a long-term deal with the 24-year-old Ozuna, who hit 23 home runs last year.

The Marlins haven’t reached the playoffs since 2003, but historically thrifty owner Jeffrey Loria approved higher spending this year, and they expect to contend after a busy offseason that has pushed their payroll higher than $70 million.

Yelich won a Gold Glove and hit .284 with nine homers and 54 RBIs in his first full major league season last year, when he made $505,000. His base salary this year will be $570,000 before the contract escalates.

A left-handed hitter, Yelich was the 23rd overall pick in the 2010 draft. He wasn’t due to become arbitration-eligible until after the 2016 season. In 206 games over two big league seasons, he’s a career .285 hitter with a .365 on-base percentage, a .400 slugging percentage and 31 stolen bases.

Brewers exercise option on Roenicke

The Milwaukee Brewers exercised their 2016 option on manager Ron Roenicke.

Roenicke replaced Ken Macha after the 2010 season and has led the Brewers to a 335-313 record. Milwaukee won the N.L. Central in his first season, then finished third and dropped to fourth in 2013.

Milwaukee started 20-7 last season and led the division for five months, then lost 22 of its last 31 games and finished third at 82-80.

Clearing the bases

Albert Pujols hit his first home run this spring in the Los Angeles Angels’ 7-7 tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pujols had two hits and drove in two runs. … New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury said he’s fully confident that he will be ready for opening day. Ellsbury is out of action until the middle of next week because of a strained oblique. … Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Cobb has tendinitis in his right forearm and is expected to miss his planned opening-day start against Baltimore on April 6. … Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz is out for at least a couple of days because of dehydration. … Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters has elbow tendinitis following his return from Tommy John surgery and won’t play until at least Sunday.