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Less than an hour after acquiring Christian Yelich in a trade from the Miami Marlins, the Milwaukee Brewers pulled another stunning move.
The Brewers agreed to sign highly-sought free agent outfielder Lorenzo Cain to a five-year, $80 million deal.
“Lorenzo is a multifaceted player and proven winner who we are pleased to welcome back to Milwaukee,” said GM David Stearns in a written statement. “His combination of speed, fielding prowess and ability to hit for average will be a valuable addition to our lineup.”
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In what's been a slow market, it becomes the biggest free agent deal of the offseason, surpassing Carlos Santana's three-year, $60 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. The deal also includes a no-trade clause.
The market for Cain was limited this winter, with only the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays showing interest. By choosing Milwaukee, he returns to the organization where he began his pro career. The Brewers drafted him in 2004 and he made his MLB debut in 2010 before being traded to the Kansas City Royals in the offseason.
With the addition of Cain, the Brewers have built a super outfield, which includes All-Star slugger Ryan Braun and Yelich. It also means either Cain, who is an exceptional defender, or Yelich will move to right field and push Domingo Santana to the bench.
Cain, 31, hit .300/.363/.440 last season while producing 5.3 WAR.
The two moves by the Brewers clearly proves the club is prepared to contend for the playoffs. Last season, they pushed the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central division, but struggled down the stretch and finished second in the division with a 86-76 record.
Gallery: Top 2017-18 MLB free agents
![RHP Yu Darvish]()
1 of 62![OD J.D. Martinez]()
2 of 62![RHP Jake Arrieta]()
3 of 62![1B Eric Hosmer]()
4 of 62![RHP Wade Davis (Signed a three-year, $52 million deal]()
5 of 62![3B Mike Moustakas]()
6 of 62![RHP Lance Lynn]()
7 of 62![OF Lorenzo Cain (Signed a five-year, $80 million deal]()
8 of 62![1B Carlos Santana (Signed a three-year, $60 million]()
9 of 62![RHP Greg Holland]()
10 of 62![RHP Alex Cobb]()
11 of 62![SS Zack Cozart (Signed a three-year, $38 million deal]()
12 of 62![C Jonathan Lucroy]()
13 of 62![OF Jay Bruce (Signed a three-year, $39 million deal]()
14 of 62![OF Logan Morrison]()
15 of 62![LHP Mike Minor (Signed a three-year, $28 million deal]()
16 of 62![RHP Brandon Morrow (Signed a two-year, $21 million]()
17 of 62![1B Yonder Alonso (signed a two-year, $16 million deal]()
18 of 62![RHP Anthony Swarzak (Signed a two-year, $14 million]()
19 of 62![2B Neil Walker]()
20 of 62![INF Eduardo Nunez]()
21 of 62![RHP Addison Reed]()
22 of 62![RHP Bryan Shaw (Signed a three-year, $27 million deal]()
23 of 62![LHP Tony Watson]()
24 of 62![3B Todd Frazier]()
25 of 62![RHP Pat Neshek (Signed a two-year, $16.5 million deal]()
26 of 62![OF Melky Cabrera]()
27 of 62![RHP Brandon Kintzler (Re-signed with the Nationals]()
28 of 62![1B Mark Reynolds]()
29 of 62![LHP CC Sabathia (Re-signed with Yankees for one year,]()
30 of 62![OF Carlos Gonzalez]()
31 of 62![RHP Tyler Chatwood (Signed a three-year, $39 million]()
32 of 62![OF Jon Jay]()
33 of 62![RHP Juan Nicasio (Signed a two-year, $17 million deal]()
34 of 62![RHP Jhoulys Chacin (Signed a two-year, $15 million]()
35 of 62![C Welington Castillo (Signed a two-year, $15 million]()
36 of 62![RHP Steve Cishek (Signed a two-year deal, $13 million]()
37 of 62![RHP Andrew Cashner]()
38 of 62![OF Carlos Gomez]()
39 of 62![LHP Jaime Garcia]()
40 of 62![1B Adam Lind]()
41 of 62![RHP Yusmeiro Petit (Signed a two-year, $10 million]()
42 of 62![LHP Brian Duensing]()
43 of 62![RHP Tommy Hunter (Signed a two-year, $18 million deal]()
44 of 62![OF/INF Howie Kendrick (Re-signed with Nationals for two-years,]()
45 of 62![OF Austin Jackson (signed a two-year, $6 million deal]()
46 of 62![LHP Jake McGee (Re-signed with the Rockies for three-years,]()
47 of 62![RHP Trevor Cahill]()
48 of 62![1B Mitch Moreland (Re-signed with the Red Sox for]()
49 of 62![SS Alcides Escobar]()
50 of 62![SS Jose Reyes]()
51 of 62![1B Lucas Duda]()
52 of 62![!B Mike Napoli]()
53 of 62![LHP Jason Vargas]()
54 of 62![RHP Doug Fister (Signed a one year, $4 million with]()
55 of 62![3B Yunel Escobar]()
56 of 62![RHP Luke Gregerson (Signed a two-year, $11 million]()
57 of 62![LHP Fernando Abad]()
58 of 62![RHP Chris Tillman]()
59 of 62![RHP Jeremy Hellickson]()
60 of 62![OF Curtis Granderson]()
61 of 62![2B Chase Utley]()
62 of 62
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