Major League Baseball

Brewers finalize $1.75M deal with RHP Saito

Published Jan. 5, 2011 10:14 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Milwaukee Brewers have finalized a $1.75 million, one-year contract with reliever Takashi Saito.

The right-hander can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses based on games and $500,000 for days on the active roster.

He was 2-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 56 games for the Atlanta Braves last year and has a 17-13 big league record with a 2.19 ERA in five seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston and Atlanta.

The 40-year-old from Japan has 84 saves, including 81 with the Dodgers from 2006-08.

Saito is expected to become the setup man for closer John Axford.

He can earn $50,000 each for 15, 20, 25 and 30 games, $100,000 apiece for 35, 40 and 50, $150,000 for 50 and 55, and $200,000 for 60. He also can make $100,000 each for 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days on the active major league roster.