|
|
Third baseman Wes Helms on Friday agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, avoiding arbitration.
In his first year as a regular, Helms hit .261 with 23 home runs and 67 RBI in 134 games last season. He became just the second third baseman in franchise history to hit 20 homers in a season.
"We're pleased
to see that Wes has stepped up to make this happen as we continue to build the
Brewers for the future," general manager Doug Melvin said. "Early
in the negotiations, Wes expressed his fondness for the Brewers and playing
in Milwaukee. This deal is an indication of what we feel about his performance
last season and his future with the Brewers."
The 27-year-old Helms had a career-high 11-game hitting streak from May 10-21
and two five-RBI performances last season.
Helms was acquired by Milwaukee along with pitcher John Foster last December in a trade that sent pitcher Ray King to Atlanta.
The Boston Red Sox agreed to an $825,000, one-year contract with catcher Doug Mirabelli on Saturday and offered a 2004 contract to first baseman David Ortiz.
Six players were cut loose when they weren't offered contracts: Damian Jackson and Lou Merloni, outfielder Gabe Kapler, left-handed reliever Scott Sauerbeck and right-handed pitchers Edwin Almonte and Jason Shiell.
Kapler, Almonte and Shiell are expected to re-sign within a few days.
ADVERTISEMENT
Boston did offered contracts to outfielder Trot Nixon and relievers Byung-Hyun
Kim and Scott Williamson.
Mirabelli, 33, played in 62 games last season and hit .258 with 13 doubles and six homers. He appeared in 55 games behind the plate, including 43 starts, usually when knuckleballer Tim Wakefield was on the mound.
In addition to his salary, he can earn an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses.
Ortiz and Nixon were key performers on a team that set offensive records and came within five outs of its first World Series since 1986.
Ortiz hit .288 with 31 homers, 39 doubles and 101 RBIs last season, while Nixon hit .306 with 28 homers, 24 doubles and 87 RBIs.
Among players not offered contracts, Jackson appeared in 109 games, mostly as a defensive replacement for Todd Walker, hitting .261. Sauerbeck, acquired as a left-handed specialist midway during the season, struggled in Boston, posting a 6.48 ERA in 26 appearances.
Kapler, another midseason acquisition, hit .291 in 68 games for the Red Sox.