USA: The Milwaukee Brewers dipped into the free-agent pool on Wednesday, November 24, to sure up their catching position, as the club agreed to terms with veteran backstop Damian Miller on a two-year contract with a club option for a third season. The deal is worth a reported $8.75 million, with Miller receiving $3.25 million over the next two seasons and $3.75 million in 2007 if the Brewers pick up the option. Milwaukee can also buy out the final year at $2.25 million.

The 35-year-old Miller is coming off a solid campaign with the Oakland Athletics in which he batted .272 with nine home runs and 58 RBI in 110 games and committed just one error behind the plate.

Miller, regarded as a strong defensive catcher and an excellent handler of pitchers, should be an upgrade over last year's tandem of Chad Moller and Gary Bennett, who combined to hit just .215 for the Brewers in 2004.

The signing marks a homecoming for Miller, a Wisconsin native who played collegiately at Viterbo University in LaCrosse before being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1990.

Miller broke into the majors with Minnesota and 1997 and was the starting catcher on the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2001 world championship squad. A .264 lifetime hitter with 68 career home runs, Miller spent 2003 with the Chicago Cubs before being traded to Oakland the following offseason.

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