KANSAS CITY, Mo. — 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.

WHITE SOX: Chicago ace Lucas Giolito will be placed on the 10-day injured list due to a lower abdominal strain.

Giolito was injured during the fourth inning of the team’s opener on Friday.

“Optimistically, maybe a couple of starts,” Manager Tony La Russa said Saturday of Giolito’s estimated time out. “We’re going to miss him.”

Giolito felt discomfort during three consecutive pitches and notified the coaching staff after the inning. He allowed one hit and struck out six before departing.

“From my understanding, it’s a random, freak, weird thing,” Giolito said. “It doesn’t happen to baseball players very often. … I’m very optimistic this won’t affect my season too much.”

Another White Sox starter, Lance Lynn, underwent knee surgery earlier this month and is expected to be out four-to-six weeks.

CARDINALS: Manager Oliver Marmol missed Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after being diagnosed with the flu.

Marmol, who was at the ballpark prior to the game and met with the media, tested negative for COVID-19.

Bench coach Skip Schumaker, in his first season with the Cardinals as part of the coaching staff after four seasons with the San Diego Padres, assumed managerial duties.

Marmol, 35, is in his first season managing the Cardinals after Mike Shildt was fired. He is the youngest active manager in Major League Baseball.

ROCKIES: Colorado is adding a new member to their baseball operations who just so happens to be their career leader in games, hits and pretty much every other hitting category.

Retired first baseman Todd Helton joined the team as a special assistant to General Manager Bill Schmidt. Helton’s new role includes pitching in with some draft preparation and scouting but mostly focusing on assisting at the minor-league level.

“I’m glad Todd is jumping back in,” Rockies Manager Bud Black said Saturday before his team played the Los Angeles Dodgers. “I think it’s good for Todd to get reconnected to our organization. … I love it.”

Helton spent 17 seasons with the Rockies, who selected him out of the University of Tennessee with the No. 8 pick in the 1995 draft. All Helton did was go on to become the franchise’s leader in runs (1,401), hits (2,519), doubles (592), homers (369) and RBIs (1,406) to name a few.

He had his No. 17 retired by the team on Aug. 17, 2014.

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