Cain gets $80M, five-year deal

MILWAUKEE» Lorenzo Cain felt comfortable back at Miller Park even if his new Milwaukee Brewers uniform seemed to fit a bit snugly over his dress shirt and tie.

The former Kansas City Royals outfielder has returned to the organization that drafted him, his future secure after a quieter-than-expected start to free agency.

Cain and the Brewers finalized an $80 million, five-year contract Friday, one day after Milwaukee general manager David Stearns acquired center fielder Christian Yelich from the Miami Marlins for four prospects.

“You definitely don’t want to be out there too long. It’s definitely chilly out there,” Cain said. “But Milwaukee was in on me from the get-go — other teams as well — and once I got a phone call from David, this was the spot I wanted to be in.”

A 31-year-old former Brewers farmhand, Cain spent the past seven seasons in Kansas City and was part of the core group that won the World Series in 2015. He hit .300 with 15 homers, 49 RBIs and 26 steals last season.

He rejoins the Brewers, who dramatically remade their outfield as they seek to dethrone the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

Cain’s deal is the highest for a free agent this offseason and the second-highest overall behind outfielder Justin Upton’s $106 million, five-year agreement to remain with the Los Angeles Angels.

“He’s one of the rare, true five-tool players in baseball right now,” Stearns said.

Drafted by Milwaukee in the 17th round in 2004, Cain was traded to Kansas City as part of a deal that sent Zack Greinke to Milwaukee in 2011.

The career .290 hitter is also known for his defense, as is Yelich, who was acquired from Miami for four minor leaguers on Thursday. The timing of the big back-to-back acquisitions was coincidental, Stearns said.

Yelich and Cain report to a team that came one game short of making the playoffs last year. Milwaukee went 8676 in the second full year of a rebuild, and the timeline for a return to pennant contention has accelerated.

“There’s not a place I don’t think it doesn’t make us better offensively and defensively,” said manager Craig Counsell, who was teammates in Milwaukee with Cain in 2010

Yelich, who turned 26 last month, will make $7 million this season in the third year of a $49.57 million, seven-year deal.