Brewers ink Braun to record-setting extension

Baseball Betting Lines

05/15/2008 - Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers have signed outfielder Ryan Braun to a record-setting eight-year contract that sets the bar for players with three years or less of major league experience.

The deal, worth a reported $45 million, covers the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year's arbitration years and his first two seasons of free agency. It includes the 2008 campaign and runs through 2015.

"I was drafted by the Brewers and although my career is just beginning, I know that the long-term future of this franchise is very promising," Braun said. "I hope that today's announcement is indicative of how much wearing this uniform means to me."

The pact exceeds the six-year, $31 million contract signed by Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who would have been eligible for arbitration the year before Braun. Rays third baseman Evan Longoria got a six-year, $17.5 million deal that was the previous standard for players like Braun that fall into the "zero-plus" category of service time.

"It's a very good contract for both the ballclub and Ryan," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said.

Braun, just 24 years old, also received the largest contract in franchise history, surpassing the four-year, $42 million dollar deal the Brewers signed pitcher Jeff Suppan to before the 2007 season.

"We've always been looked upon as a small-market team, but we try not to have that attitude," Melvin added.

Braun captured the league's top rookie honor last year despite playing only 113 games. He batted .324 with 34 home runs and 97 runs batted in. His major league-best .634 slugging percentage surpassed the all-time rookie record of .621 set in 1930 by George Watkins of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Entering Thursday's action, Braun leads the Brewers with 29 runs batted in and is batting .287 with nine homers. He is also tied for second in the National League with 14 doubles.

Because Braun was not called up to the majors until May 2007, Braun would not have been eligible for arbitration until after the 2010 season, and would not have hit the free agent market until the end of the 2013 season.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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