Marlins sign seven-year contract extension with 23-year-old Christian Yelich

By Aaron GleemanMar 18, 2015, 4:30 PM EDT
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Christian Yelich and the Marlins are “close” to inking a seven-year contract worth more than $40 million in guaranteed money, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.

Yelich was the Marlins’ first-round pick in 2010, debuted in 2013 as a 21-year-old, and had an impressive first full season in the majors last year, hitting .284 with nine homers, 21 steals, and a .764 OPS in 144 games while winning a Gold Glove award in left field.

He’s currently making the minimum salary and was already under the Marlins’ team control through 2019, so a seven-year deal would buy out either one or two seasons of free agency depending on whether it officially begins this season or in 2016.

Yelich has shown uncommonly strong on-base skills for such a young hitter, drawing 101 walks in 933 career plate appearances on the way to posting a nice .365 on-base percentage through age 22. Toss in good speed and plus defense in the outfield and he absolutely looks like a long-term building block for Miami.

Giancarlo Stanton and the Marlins agreed to a 13-year, $325 million contract extension in November, so he’ll be driving in Yelich an awful lot.

UPDATE: Multiple outlets are now reporting that the deal is worth just a hair under $50 million.

Didi Gregorius will wear a mask during games

Gregorius will wear a mask
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By Craig CalcaterraJul 16, 2020, 10:18 AM EDT
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Didi Gregorius will wear a mask during games this year. That’s what the Phillies infielder tells the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“We are trying to go through the guidelines and trying to do everything we can do to stay safe, so, that’s why people see me walking around with a mask on and stuff. I am keeping myself safe, wearing a mask everywhere I go. So, I have to keep it on me all the time.”

Gregorius will wear a mask both while batting and out in the field, he said.

A big reason for it is that he has a chronic kidney condition which makes him “high risk” under Major League Baseball’s safety protocols. He could opt out if he wanted to but Gregorius, who signed a $14 million deal with the Phillies last winter, is a free agent again this coming offseason. He is coming off of a down year in 2019, having hit .238/.276/.441 with 16 home runs and 61 RBI across 344 plate appearances. Gregorius underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2018 and didn’t make his 2019 season debut until June 7. A big reason he took a one-year deal was to reestablish his value for next season’s go-around on the free agent market and he doesn’t want the long layoff going into what could be his last significant payday.

Major League Baseball is not requiring players or umpires to wear masks on the field during games or practices, though it is reportedly looking into clear face shields for home plate umpires to wear under their usual protective masks.

Gregorius will wear a mask to keep himself safe, he said, but he also notes in the article that “I think it adds safety for everybody, for me and people around me.” Here’s hoping, given his vulnerability, everyone around him is being as safe as he is.