MILWAUKEE, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The Milwaukee Brewers avoided arbitration with Ron Belliard Thursday, agreeing to terms with the slick-fielding second baseman on a one-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed for Belliard, who was paid $310,000 last season, when he committed just five errors in 101 games.
The 26-year-old hit a career-high 11 home runs and drove in 36 runs while batting .264 in 2001. His agreement leaves pitchers Valerio De Los Santos, Chad Fox and Jamey Wright as the only Brewers eligible for arbitration.
Milwaukee also signed journeyman catcher Marcus Jensen to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Jensen, 29, played for Boston and Texas last season and hit .172 with two RBI in 12 games. He was a teammate of Brewers righthander Ben Sheets on the 2000 United States Olympic team.
