Brewers agree to contract with Rodriguez

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MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Brewers' reliever Francisco Rodriguez agreed to a one-year contract today worth a reported eight-million-dollars. That doesn't mean he'll stay with the Brewers this year, because the team can still trade him.

The 30-year-old Rodriguez gave up his previous role as a closer after the New York Mets traded him to Milwaukee last summer. "K-Rod" became an eighth-inning specialist. He set the table for John Axford, who tied a Brewers' record with 46 saves last season. Rodriguez made 11-and-a-half million dollars last year. He was a free agent when he unexpectedly asked Milwaukee for salary arbitration last month. Meanwhile, only three Brewer players remain eligible for arbitration -- starter Shaun Marcum and relievers Kameron Loe and Jose Veras.

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Milwaukee Brewers’ reliever Kameron Loe agreed to a one-year contract today worth almost $2.2 million. The Brewers avoided salary arbitration with Loe and fellow reliever Francisco Rodriguez, just before the noon deadline for the owners and eligible players to exchange salary proposals. Rodriguez signed for eight-million dollars for this year, down from 11-and-a-half million a year ago. Loe made one-and-a-quarter million dollars last season. He went 4-7 in 72 outings with an ERA of 3.50. As of early afternoon, starter Shaun Marcum and reliever Jose Veras were the only Brewers still in line for salary arbitration.

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Craig Counsell will move into the Milwaukee Brewers' front office. A news conference will be held this afternoon, where the team will announce that its veteran utility infielder will become a special assistant to General Manager Doug Melvin. Counsell turned 41 last August. He said he's excited to begin a new challenge -- and he hopes to contribute to an organization that's been a special part of his life for many years. Counsell grew up in Whitefish Bay while his father John worked in Milwaukee's front office in the 1980's as the head of community relations and the director of the Brewers' speakers bureau. Craig Counsell played 16 years in the Majors and won World Series rings with Arizona and Florida. He played his final five years with Milwaukee, plus one season three years before that. Counsell had a career batting average of .255 with 42 homers and 390 RBI's.

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