Boston Red Sox vs Milwaukee Brewers Tickets at Fenway Park

The Brewers finalized an incentive-rich, Minor League contract with veteran right-hander Jeff Weaver on Tuesday evening, pending a physical scheduled for Wednesday Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park. Weaver is coming off a poor 2007 Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park season with Seattle that left him available on the free-agent market, and the Brewers were depleted in the final week of Spring Training when they lost left-hander Chris Capuano to an elbow injury and decided to release right-hander Claudio Vargas rather than pay Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park his full $3.6 million salary.

Weaver would restore some depth to the organization's starting pitching. General manager Doug Melvin insisted that Weaver's arrival on the scene did not signal any Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park impending trade. "It has nothing to do with that at all," Melvin said. "It's all about long term, down the road. We'll have him if we need him. We like [Triple-A starters] Chris Narveson Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park [and] Zach Jackson. We're just adding depth."

Melvin said Weaver was guaranteed only a "small, Minor League salary. According to a variety of sources, Weaver could earn $4-$5 million if he makes it into the Brewers rotation soon and reaches certain statistical milestones. He can opt out of the deal in June if he isn't in the Majors, Melvin Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park confirmed. The Brewers' contact with Weaver was first reported on Tuesday morning by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Weaver, who turns 32 in August, did not pitch in Spring Training, but he had been working out at a facility run by his agent, Scott Boras. Brewers scout Tom Wheeler recommended Weaver after watching him throw to college hitters in California, and by Tuesday, Weaver was already on the way to the Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park Brewers' training facility in Phoenix. Weaver could report to Triple-A Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park Nashville within 10-14 days.

Weaver was 7-13 with a 6.20 ERA in 27 starts last season for the Mariners and missed starts with shoulder tendinitis and a torn fingernail. But the year before that, Weaver was key to the Cardinals' championship run, going 3-2 in five starts during the 2006 postseason with a 2.92 ERA. That Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park performance helped Boras land Weaver a one-year, $8.3 million contract with Seattle. According to Weaver's younger Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park brother, Angels pitcher Jered, the Nationals and Cardinals showed interest in Jeff during Spring Training. "We wanted to take a patient look at this and find the right fit," "He's been working out at our fitness institute the past Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park two months, and he's ready to go." Boras also represents Brewers Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park first baseman Prince Fielder, closer Eric Gagne and reliever Seth McClung.

The Brewers should get another starter back in the rotation early next week, when right-hander Yovani Gallardo is activated from the disabled list. Gallardo, coming Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park back from knee surgery, made his third rehab start for Nashville on Monday and threw 106 pitches in 6 1/3 innings, Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park allowing four runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out seven.