The Brewers opened up their wallet and paid three unsigned players great money for one-year contracts. John Axford, Burke Badenhop and Marco Estrada each avoided arbitration by coming to terms with Milwaukee.
Axford received a $5 million deal, plus incentives. According to a baseball source, Badenhop signed for $1.55 million, while Estrada agreed to a $1.955 million deal.
Axford earned $525,000 last season, during which he briefly lost his closer's job but still saved 35 games and compiled a 4.67 ERA.
Badenhop was acquired from the Rays in early December and was up for arbitration for the third time. He earned $1.075 million in 2012 while posting a 3.03 ERA in a career-high 66 appearances.
Estrada earned $486,000 last season after going 5-7 with a 3.64 ERA last season.
