Brewers Avoid Arbitration With Estrada, Francisco

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Brewers avoided arbitration with RHP Marco Estrada and 1B Juan Francisco on Friday, signing them to one-year deals.

Estrada will make $3.325 million while Francisco is signed for $1.35 million in 2014. Both are eligible for performance bonuses as well.

The negotiations came down to the final minutes, according to Brewers vice president of business development Teddy Werner.

“Both were finished within 10 minutes of the deadline,” Werner told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Francisco’s was even closer.”

This is Estrada’s second year of arbitration eligibility. He earned $1.955 million last season while posting a 3.87 ERA in 21 starts. Estrada started the 2013 season slow,  but came on strong in the second half after returning from the disabled list. He is slated to be the third or fourth starter in Milwaukee’s rotation.

Francisco, who was arbitration eligible for the first time, hit .227 with 18 home runs with the Brewers and Atlanta Braves last season. He’ll compete with newly-signed Mark Reynolds for the job at first base.

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