MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to one-year contracts with Canadian closer John Axford and two other right-handers, avoiding arbitration.
Axford, who hails from Simcoe, Ont., gets US$5 million this season after earning $525,000 last year. Agreements were also reached with Marco Estrada, who will be paid $1,955,000 after making $486,000 last season, and Burke Badenhop, who will get $1.55 million after earning $1.1 million last season.
Axford can earn an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses ($50,000 each for 60 and 63 games finished) and $300,000 in awards bonuses. He finished 54 games last season and 63 in 2011.
