Hardy's deal is for $2.65 million

Reported By Tom Haudricourt

"J.J. Hardy and Doug Melvin won't have to go to Florida this weekend after all.

The Brewers and Hardy just agreed on a one-year deal that will avoid an arbitration hearing Monday in St. Petersburg. I haven't gotten details of the contract yet but last I heard the sides were just below the midpoint of figures filed, which was $2.725 million.

Hardy had filed a salary arbitration request of $3.05 million, with the Brewers offering $2.4 million. Negotiations had stalled somewhat in recent days and Melvin, the club GM, was preparing to go to Florida for the hearing.

Now, Melvin keeps his record intact of never going to an arbitration hearing as Brewers' GM. Hardy had been the last player in arbitration with the club.

Hardy, 25, batted .277 with 26 homers and 80 RBI in 151 games last year and made the National League all-star team.
Just learned the details of J.J. Hardy's new one-year deal with the Brewers. He signed for $2.65 million.

Hardy filed for $3.05 million and the Brewers originally offered $2.4 million, so the midpoint was $2.725 million. Hardy signed for $75,000 less than that figure but certainly got a nice raise from his $400,000 salary of a year ago.

The sides appeared at odds Thursday night but the Brewers sweetened their offer a bit today to avoid a hearing in Florida on Monday."

This is great for the Brewers to get this out of the way now J.J. Hardy can concentrate on baseball and not his contract Negotiations.