"The Milwaukee Brewers know they must dramatically improve their starting rotation to return to contender status in 2010.

In the meantime, they figured it couldn't hurt to address the final inning of games.

The Brewers reached agreement Monday with all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman on a one-year deal for a base salary of $8 million with a mutual option for 2011.

Assistant general manager Gord Ash said the Brewers would have no comment on the agreement. The club apparently is waiting for an already scheduled end-of-season news conference Wednesday to make that announcement.

Josh Goldberg, a spokesperson for the Beverly Hills Sports Council, which represents Hoffman, said agent Rick Thurman would not comment on the agreement, either.

A source familiar with the talks said the mutual option for 2011 could pay as much as $8.5 million if Hoffman reaches all of his incentives for games finished. The buyout of that option is $500,000 but increases to $1 million if he finishes 44 games next season."