Jim Edmonds Agrees To Minor League Deal With Milwaukee Brewers

Former All-Star outfielder Jim Edmonds has agreed to a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, in hopes that he will return to the big leagues after sitting out the entire 2009 season.

The 39-year-old Edmonds is a career .284 hitter with 382 homers and 1,176 RBI in 16 seasons with Anaheim, St. Louis, San Diego, and the Chicago Cubs.

“He's hit for power, he’s got experience, he knows the division,” Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Thursday. “He’s a left-handed hitter, brings experience and has Gold Gloves on his side. He may have lost a step or two, but we know what he brings.”

Edmonds, a four-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner, hit .235 with 20 homers and 55 RBI in 111 games for the Padres and Cubs two years ago. General manager Melvin called it a low risk move for the club.

“He took the year off and has the fire to want to come back,” Melvin said. “I’m hoping that it works out very similar to how it worked out with Gabe Kapler."

Milwaukee signed Kapler in 2008 after the outfielder had spent the previous year as a minor league manager. Kapler went on to be a key contributor in the Brewers’ 2008 postseason run and has continued his career in the majors.

Melvin has been looking for left-handed hitters to help fill out his predominantly right-handed roster.

Milwaukee’s outfielders on the 40-man roster include Ryan Braun, Corey Hart, Carlos Gomez, Lorenzo Cain, and Jody Gerut. Of those six, only one bats left handed.

This seems like a great signing for the Brewers even though they will be sending Edmonds to the minors. Although I like the move by the Brewers because not only did they sign a Gold Glove outfielder and Silver Slugger, they signed him to the MINORS! This move, over time, makes the Brewers outfield one of the best in their division.