All-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman passed his physical examination Tuesday in California and officially joined the roster of the Milwaukee Brewers .
Hoffman, 41, reached agreement Thursday on a one-year deal for $6 million, with $1.5 million in incentives based on games finished. Under orders from Major League Baseball, however, teams are not allowed to officially announce a signing until the player passes a physical. "We are very excited to have Trevor wearing a Brewers uniform," general manager Doug Melvin said in a news release. "He brings to our club the closer we need for us to continue our pursuit of a World Series."
Hoffman is the career saves leader with 554 during a 16-year career. He has posted at least 30 saves in each of his last 13 full seasons (he was limited to nine games in 2003 by injury).
The changeup specialist converted 30 of 34 save opportunities last season for the last-place San Diego Padres, who are slashing payroll and allowed Hoffman to go on the free-agent market.
With the signing official, the Padres released a statement including comments from owner John Moores, CEO Sandy Alderson and general manager Kevin Towers.
"Trevor has meant a lot to this organization and to the San Diego community over the last 16 years," Towers said. "We are going to miss hearing 'Hells Bells' and seeing No.51 walk through that center-field gate.
"He has been a constant professional both on and off the field and we wish him the best of luck as he continues his Hall of Fame career."
Another blanking: For the second consecutive year, there will be no inductee into the Miller Park Walk of Fame. None of the former Brewers or Milwaukee Braves on the ballot received the necessary 75% vote for election.
Former Braves pitcher Lew Burdette came the closest, missing by just one vote on the 42 ballots cast by local media and a team panel. Left-hander Teddy Higuera was the closest to election among former Brewers with 62% of the vote.
Other notable names who fell short were Brewers outfielder Ben Oglivie (52%) and right-hander Pete Vuckovich (52%), and Braves first baseman Joe Adcock (62%).
In 2007, the first year that former Braves players were on the ballot, Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn and John Quinn were elected to the Walk of Fame. No one was elected in 2006 or 2008.
Dodgers sign Mota: Reliever Guillermo Mota, who made 58 appearances for the Brewers last season, returned to Los Angeles by agreeing to a one-year deal with the Dodgers. Mota pitched for the Dodgers from 2002-'04.
Mota, 35, was 5-6 with a 4.11 earned run average for the Brewers in '08.
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