MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Pitcher Glendon Rusch, obtained
by Milwaukee from the New York Mets in the Jeromy
Burnitz trade, agreed Tuesday to a $7.3 million, two-year
contract with the Brewers. <br><br>The deal includes a
2004 club option at $5 million with a $500,000 buyout.
Including performance bonuses, Rusch could earn up to
$14,025,000 over three years if he pitches 225 innings or
more each season. <br><br>Rusch gets salaries of $2.8
million this year and $4 million in 2003. He can earn up
to $275,000 in performance bonuses this season and
$400,000 in each of the next two years. Depending upon
innings pitched, his base salary could increase to $4.5
million in 2003 and $5.65 million in 2004. <br><br>Rusch,
who had filed for salary arbitration, was 8-12 with a
4.63 ERA in 33 games for the Mets last season. He was
acquired by the Brewers along with outfielder Alex Ochoa
and infielder Lenny Harris on Jan. 21 for Burnitz,
outfielder Mark Sweeney, infielder Lou Collier and pitcher
Jeff D'Amico. <br><br>Rusch had 156 strikeouts in 179
innings last year, when he had the worst run support
among major league starters, 3.27. Rusch also averaged
2.2 walks per nine innings, eighth-best in the NL.