Brewers sign Hall to four-year deal

from jsonline.com

The Milwaukee Brewers tied up a key piece to their future today, signing Bill Hall to a four-year contract with a club option for 2011.

Terms of the deal were not announced but the Journal Sentinel learned it is worth $24 million in guaranteed money, including a $500,000 buyout of the option.

Hall gets a salary of $3 million this year, plus a $500,000 signing bonus. His salary for 2008 is $4.8 million, followed by $6.8 million in 2009 and $8.4 million in 2010. The club option for 2011 is $9.25 million, bringing the full value of the contract to $32.75 million.

Hall, 27, was the last player the Brewers had in salary arbitration for this year. He requested a salary of $4.125 million, with the Brewers offering $3 million. That put the midpoint at $3,562,500, but the Brewers and agent Gregg Clifton concentrated primarily on doing a multi-year deal.

The contract not only buys out all three of Hall's arbitration years but also his first year of free agency, with the possibility of a second if the option is exercised.

"I think the Brewers went as far as they could go," said Clifton. "They really stepped up, and we appreciate that. We had a very productive negotiation with some give and take. I think we ended up with a fair deal for both sides."

The Brewers talked with Hall last spring about a multi-year deal, but an agreement couldn't be reached and he signed for $418,000. Eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter, he was guaranteed a big pay raise."

The timing was just right," Hall said in a telephone interview from Phoenix. "I always wanted to stay in Milwaukee. We've got a good thing going there. Now, I know I'll be there for a long time."

Playing primarily in place of injured shortstop J.J. Hardy last season, Hall batted .270 and led the club with 35 home runs, 85 runs batted in, 39 doubles and 101 runs scored. Named the most valuable player on the team, he played in a career-high 148 games and compiled 78 extra-base hits and 297 total bases, also club highs.

With Hardy expected back from ankle surgery to play shortstop, plans are in the works to move Hall to center field. "I think that's going to be my position for the rest of my career," said Hall. "I'm excited about it. Next to shortstop, center field has the most action. I've always liked running around and diving for balls."

And now he'll be paid handsomely for doing so.