Brewers, Rodriguez reach deal to avoid arbitration

The Milwaukee Brewers and reliever Francisco Rodriguez have agreed to an $8 million, one-year deal, avoiding arbitration. Rodriguez, who had an $11.5 million salary last year, can made $625,000 in performance bonuses based on games finished: $125,000 each for 15, 20 and 25, and $250,000 for 30. He arrived in Milwaukee in a trade with the New York Mets in July and pitched primarily in a setup role for Brewers closer John Axford. He made 31 appearances for the Brewers, going 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA. Overall last season, Rodriguez was 6-2 with a 2.64 ERA. He had 23 saves, all with the Mets. Rodriguez could have pursued free agent opportunities as a closer in the offseason, but instead accepted the Brewers' arbitration offer. Rodriguez has 291 saves.