Brewers, Estrada sidestep arbitration

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MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers and catcher Johnny Estrada agreed Friday to a one-year, $3.4 million contract and avoided an arbitration hearing later this month.

Acquired Nov. 25 from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Estrada is expected to take over everyday catching duties from veteran Damian Miller, who battled a myriad of injuries last season and will return in a reserve role.


Brewers (http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070202&content_id=1793220&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil)

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MILWAUKEE -- Catcher Johnny Estrada avoided arbitration with the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, agreeing to a $3.4 million, one-year contract.

Estrada, obtained by Milwaukee as part of a six-player deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks in November, hit .302 with 11 homers and 71 RBIs in 115 games last season. He is slated to become the starting catcher, sending 37-year-old Damian Miller to a reserve role.


ESPN (AP) (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2752537)

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MILWAUKEE (TICKER) -- The Milwaukee Brewers on Friday signed Johnny Estrada to a one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration with their new catcher.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Friday that Estrada will receive $3.4 million in 2007.

The Brewers acquired Estrada on November 25 in a six-player trade which sent lefthander Doug Davis to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Milwaukee also received righthanders Claudio Vargas and Greg Aquino in the deal.


Yahoo (SportsTicker) (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AliA3TcZPrh_sVXIZ5eT5uoe0bYF?slug=brewer sestrada&prov=st&type=lgns)

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Johnny Estrada knew his arbitration hearing was scheduled for Feb. 16 in Phoenix, one day before pitchers and catchers report to spring training there with the Milwaukee Brewers.

"I didn't want to spend my first day going to court," the Brewers' new starting catcher said.

Estrada eliminated that possibility Friday by reaching agreement with the Brewers on a one-year deal for $3.4 million, a nice raise from his $2 million salary last season with Arizona.

The agreement left only one Brewer, infielder-turned-outfielder Bill Hall, remaining in arbitration. Talks continue with his representatives for a four-year deal that could be consummated next week.


JSONLINE (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=560981)

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The Milwaukee Brewers and catcher Johnny Estrada agreed today on a one-year deal for $3.4 million, avoiding salary arbitration.

The agreement left the Brewers with only one player remaining in arbitration, Bill Hall, and talks continue with his representatives for a multi-year deal that could be consummated next week.


JSONLINE (Sports Watch) (http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=2&date=2/2/2007&id=18333)

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Catcher Johnny Estrada inked a one-year deal Friday, the fourth of five players offered arbitration in the second round to sign before a hearing (Vargas agreed to the midpoint about a week ago). Estrada was the first player to sign below the midpoint (Capuano, Mench, and Vargas all signed for the halfway point between the clubs offer and their submitted figure), but Estrada’s contract includes an “incentive” clause that would bring his $3.4 million base up to the $3.45 million midpoint should he either start 125 games or get 500 plate appearances, the latter being a virtual certainty unless he gets hurt.

Brewers Bar Blog (http://mvn.com/mlb-brewers/2007/02/03/estrada-signs-only-hall-left/)