ADVANCING AND RETREATING CONTRARY TO GOVERNMENT ORDERS IS NOT DONE FOR PERSONAL INTEREST, BUT ONLY TO SAFEGUARD THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE AND ACCORD WITH THE TRUE BENEFIT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

- The Art of War -

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Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Milwaukee Brewers have signed Damian Miller. Slusser also repudiates the Jason Kendall rumors. This is the fourth season in a row that Jason Kendall has been on the trading block and as soon as Kevin Towers, the San Diego Padres General Manager, rears his head - it will be the fourth year in a row that Kendall is rumored to be going to San Diego.

Back to Miller for a moment. Miller gets a three-year deal for at least $8.75 Million. Miller gets $3.25 Million a year for the next two years (a raise) and 2007 is an option year. The Brewers hold a $3.75 Million option for 2007 or Miller holds a player option at $2.25 Million. This is different than the mutual option course. If the Brewers decline their portion of the option, Miller gets $2.25 Million to stick around. Unlike mutual options with, say Jermaine Dye, BOTH parties have to agree in order for the option to be picked up.

The Jason Kendall issue won't go away until the GM Winter Meetings (no sleep 'til Anaheim!). And while A's fans have visions of a hitting catcher dance in their heads, the cost should make it a nightmare scenario. Catchers over a certain age should expect to lose 10% of their expected offensive output, and Kendall is near that age. According to Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA numbers Kendall's five-year attrition rate jumps off the screen. The projections should be updated in a few weeks, but there's no real cause to suggest a revolutionary change. As catchers get older, the are a picture representation of diminishing returns. And when you make $10 Million a year to diminish, you are no longer attractive.