 
11/29/2004 5:28 PM ET
Brewers come to terms with Miller
Veteran backstop receives two-year deal
MILWAUKEE, WI -- The Milwaukee Brewers have reached agreement with catcher Damian Miller on a two-year deal with a club/player option for 2007, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.
Miller, 35, a native Wisconsinite, played for the Oakland Athletics in 2004, where he appeared in 110 games, batting .272 with nine home runs and 58 runs batted in. His RBI total was a career-best. He also hit .324 with runners in scoring position last season, and .412 with the bases loaded.
Known as a top-tier defensive catcher, Miller posted a .999 fielding percentage, committing just one error in 751 total chances to set an Oakland record for catchers. He also has the second highest fielding percentage in Major League history for backstops with more than 600 games played, behind only Seattle's Dan Wilson. Miller's mark of .9946 barely trails Wilson's .9949 percentage.
"Damian has emerged as one of the top all-around catchers in the game," said Melvin. "His defensive abilities are some of the best in the history of the game. He brings leadership qualities and experience that will be useful to a young team, and his offense has been solid."
Miller threw out 28.1 percent of baserunners attempting to steal last season, and has caught 32.2 percent of would-be stealers in his career.
Miller has appeared in 716 Major League games for Minnesota, Arizona, Chicago (NL) and Oakland. He is a .264 career hitter with 68 home runs and 301 RBIs.
Originally drafted by Minnesota in 1990, Miller began his Major League career in 1997 with the Twins. He played for Arizona from 1998-2002, where he was a member of the 2001 World Champion Diamondbacks club.
Miller was a member of the National League All-Star team in 2002, going 2-for-3 with an RBI at Miller Park in Milwaukee.
After a year with the Chicago Cubs in 2003, Miller was traded to Oakland on December 21 in exchange for a minor league pitcher.
Miller was born and still resides in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is a 1987 graduate of West Salem High School, and attended Viterbo College in La Crosse.
When he appears in a game for Milwaukee, he will become the eighth native Wisconsinite to wear a Brewers uniform, joining Jerry Augustine, Gene Brabender, Matt Erickson, Jim Gantner, Willie Mueller, Paul Wagner and Bob Wickman.
To make room for Miller on the 40-man roster, the Brewers have designated outfielder Chris Magruder for assignment.
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