The Brewers announced today that they've extended right fielder Corey Hart through 2013. ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that the extension is worth $26.5MM. The contract covers Hart's final arbitration season and two free agent years. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel tweets the details: a $1MM signing bonus, $6.5MM in 2011, $9MM in '12, and $10MM in '13 plus a limited no-trade clause.
Hart wasn't far from being a non-tender candidate after a disappointing 2009 season. The Brewers retained him but lost an arbitration hearing regarding his 2010 salary ($4.8MM). Hart bounced back in a big way, making the All-Star team and posting a .288/.346/.565 line so far. He's tied for sixth in the NL with 23 home runs. His name was a rumor mill staple last month until a wrist injury sidelined him, though GM Doug Melvin implied today that discussions did not get to a serious stage. Just yesterday Hart talked about his desire for an extension; it turns out assistant GM Gord Ash had been hammering out the deal over the past week or so with Hart's agent Jeff Berry.
Also in Hart's service time class: Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks, who are under team control through 2011.
